Methods and devices for forming bone tunnels

ABSTRACT

Methods and devices are provided for forming bone tunnels. In general, the methods and devices allow multiple converging tunnels to be formed in bone, such as in an arthroscopic surgical procedure, e.g., a rotator cuff repair surgical procedure. One or more sutures can be advanced through the converging tunnels, and the suture(s) can be coupled to tissue. The suture(s) with the tissue coupled thereto can be tensioned, thereby helping to maximize an amount of the tissue in contact with the bone. In an exemplary embodiment, a guide device is provided that can be configured to allow a first tunnel to be formed in bone and to allow a plurality of additional tunnels to be formed in the bone at predetermined angular positions relative to the first tunnel such that each of the additional tunnels can extend transverse to the first tunnel and intersect the first tunnel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to methods and devices forforming bone tunnels, and in particular to forming intersecting bonetunnels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soft tissues, such as ligaments, tendons and muscles, are attached to alarge portion of the human skeleton. In particular, many ligaments andtendons are attached to the bones which form joints, such as shoulderand knee joints. A variety of injuries and conditions require attachmentor reattachment of a soft tissue to bone. For example, when otherwisehealthy tissue has been torn away from a bone, surgery is often requiredto reattach the tissue to the bone to allow healing and a naturalreattachment to occur.

A variety of injuries and conditions require repair of soft tissuedamage, or reattachment of soft tissue to bone and/or surroundingtissue. One example of otherwise healthy tissue being torn away from abone is a shoulder rotator cuff tendon being partially or completelytorn from a humerus (a rotator cuff tear). Surgery is often required toreattach the tissue to the bone to allow healing and reattachment tooccur. A number of devices and methods have been developed forperforming these surgical repairs, such as screws, pins, staples,cement, suture anchors, and sutures.

One method of repairing damaged soft tissue is to form a receiving holeinto the bone, e.g., with an awl, tap, or drill, and then a bone anchoris inserted into the hole using an installation tool that is effectiveto lock the bone anchor within the bone hole. The free ends of thesuture can then be passed through or around tissue and tied to securethe tissue to the bone. Alternatively, in some soft tissue reattachmentprocedures, the soft tissue can be moved into position over the bone,and a hole may be formed through the tissue and then an aligned holeformed through the bone. A bone anchor can then be passed through thetissue and deployed into the bone. The free end of the suture is thentied to secure the tissue to the bone. In either procedure, the knottingprocess can be difficult and tedious, particularly during laparoscopicor arthroscopic procedures, where the surgeon must remotely manipulatethe suture using tools inserted through an access tube. Such proceduresoften require the use of multiple bone anchors and multiple suturesrequiring multiple knots to securely attach the tissue to bone andprevent the risk of tearing. Additionally, passing one or more suturesthrough the tissue can require extensive, time-consuming manipulation ofthe tissue and suture(s).

Another method of repairing damaged soft tissue is to form multipleholes into bone, with the holes converging. One or more sutures passedthrough or around tissue can be passed through the multiple holes andtied to secure the tissue to the bone. However, it can be difficult toachieve the proper trajectories of the holes so they converge within thebone. It can also be difficult and cumbersome to form the holes, whichto converge are typically formed through different sides of the bone.Accessing the different sides of the bone can require differentpositioning of the patient and/or the surgeon, which can be awkward andtime consuming. Additionally, similar to that discussed above, knottingthe sutures can be difficult and tedious, particularly duringlaparoscopic or arthroscopic procedures.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improved methods and devices forforming bone tunnels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides methods for delivering andaffixing surgical fasteners. In one embodiment, a surgical device isprovided that includes a bridge member, and a shaft configured to beinserted into bone. The bridge member has proximal and distal ends withan intermediate portion extending between the proximal and distal ends.The proximal end has a proximal connector feature, the distal end has adistal connector feature, and the intermediate portion has a pluralityof holes formed therethrough. The shaft can be configured to be seatedin the proximal and distal connector features such that an intermediateportion of the shaft extending between the first and second ends ispositioned within the bone and positioned relative to the intermediateportion of the bridge member such that respective longitudinal axes ofthe plurality of holes intersect a longitudinal axis of the intermediateportion of the shaft.

The shaft can have a variety of configurations. The shaft can becannulated. The shaft can have a plurality of openings formed in theintermediate portion thereof. When the shaft is received in the proximaland distal connector features, each of the plurality of openings can becoaxially aligned with one of the plurality of holes. In someembodiments, the shaft can have at least one of a first surface featureconfigured to engage the proximal connector feature and a second surfacefeature configured to engage the distal connector feature such that whenthe at least of the first surface feature engages the proximal connectorfeature and the second surface feature engages the distal connectorfeature, the longitudinal axes of the plurality of holes can intersectthe longitudinal axis of the intermediate portion of the shaft. When theshaft is seated in the proximal and distal connector features of thebridge member, a first end of the shaft can extend proximally beyond theproximal end of the bridge member outside the bone, and a second end ofthe shaft can extend distally beyond the distal end of the bridge memberoutside the bone.

The bridge member can also have a variety of configurations. Forexample, the longitudinal axes of the holes formed through theintermediate portion of the bridge member can be substantially parallelto one another. For another example, the bridge member can be u-shaped.

The proximal and distal connector features of the bridge member can varyin any number of ways. In some embodiments, at least one of the proximaland distal connector features can be keyed to the shaft such that whenthe shaft is received in the proximal and distal connector features, theintermediate portion of the shaft can be aligned in a predeterminedorientation relative to the holes.

In another embodiment, a surgical device is provided that includes aframe having a base portion and an arm portion extending transverselyfrom the base portion. The base portion has an opening formedtherethrough, and the arm portion has a plurality of holes formedtherethrough. The opening formed through the base portion can beconfigured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough. Each of theplurality of holes can be configured to receive a suture therethrough. Alongitudinal axis of the opening formed through the base portion can besubstantially perpendicular to longitudinal axes of each of theplurality of holes. The longitudinal axes of the plurality of holes canbe substantially parallel to one another.

The surgical device can also include a suture capture device. The suturecapture device can vary in any number of ways. The suture capture devicecan have at least one suture capture feature and can be configured to beadvanced through the opening such that at least one suture capturefeature is aligned with at least one of the holes. In some embodiments,the suture capture device can be configured to be advanced through theopening formed through the base portion to capture at least one sutureextending through at least one of the plurality of holes, and retractedthrough the opening formed through the base portion with the at leastone suture captured thereto.

In yet another embodiment, a surgical device is provided that includes aframe and a guide block. The frame has a first end, a second end, and anarcuate portion located between the first and second ends. The first endhas a first bore formed therethrough that is configured to receive afirst surgical instrument, and the second end has a second bore formedtherethrough that is configured to receive a second surgical instrument.A longitudinal axis of the first bore can be coaxial with a longitudinalaxis of the second bore. The guide block can be slidably mounted on thearcuate portion and can have a third bore formed therethrough that isconfigured to receive a third surgical instrument. A longitudinal axisof the third bore can intersect the longitudinal axes of the first andsecond bores.

The guide block can have a variety of configurations. The longitudinalaxis of the third bore can intersect the longitudinal axes of the firstand second bores when the guide block is at any slidable position alongthe arcuate portion. In some embodiments, the guide block can have oneor more additional bores formed therethrough that are each configured toreceive an additional surgical instrument. The longitudinal axis of thethird bore can be substantially parallel to longitudinal axes of each ofthe one or more additional bores. The longitudinal axes of each of theone or more additional bores can intersect the longitudinal axes of thefirst and second bores.

The surgical device can also include a first drill guide, a second drillguide, and a probe. The first drill guide can be configured to receive adrill for drilling a bone hole, and the second drill guide can beconfigured to receive a drill for drilling a bone hole. The probe canhave a suture coupled thereto. The first surgical instrument can includethe first drill guide, the second surgical instrument can include thesecond drill guide, and the third surgical instrument can include theprobe.

In another aspect, a surgical method is provided that includespositioning a guide device relative to bone, forming a first tunnelthrough the bone, forming a second tunnel in the bone by drillingthrough a first hole formed in the guide device, and forming a thirdtunnel in the bone by drilling through a second hole formed in the guidedevice. The second tunnel can intersect the first tunnel. The thirdtunnel can intersect the first tunnel and not intersect the secondtunnel. In some embodiments, at least one additional tunnel can beformed in the bone. The at least one additional tunnel can intersect thefirst tunnel and not intersect the second tunnel or the third tunnel,and the at least one additional tunnel can be formed by drilling throughat least one additional hole formed in the guide device.

The first tunnel can be formed in any number of ways. For example,forming the first tunnel can include advancing a cannulated shaft intothe bone such that proximal and distal portions of the cannulated shaftextend outside the bone with an intermediate portion of the shaftextending between the first and second opposed ends being located withinthe bone. The guide device can have a first end mated to the proximalportion of the cannulated shaft outside the bone and can have a secondend mated to the distal portion of the cannulated shaft outside thebone.

For another example, forming the first tunnel can include drillingthrough an opening formed in the guide device. The opening can have alongitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the first hole and to a longitudinal axis of the second hole. Afirst suture can be positioned to have a first portion in the firsttunnel and a second portion in the second tunnel, and a second suturecan be positioned to have a first portion in the first tunnel and asecond portion in the third tunnel. A suture capture device can beadvanced through the opening and into the first tunnel to capture thefirst portion of the first suture and the first portion of the secondsuture. The suture capture device can be removed from the first tunnelwith the first portion of the first suture and the first portion of thesecond suture captured thereto to advance the first portion of the firstsuture and the first portion of the second suture through the opening.

For yet another example, forming the first tunnel can include drillingthrough a first bore formed in a first end of the guide device anddrilling through a second bore formed in a second end the guide device.The first and second bores can have coaxial longitudinal axes. The firstand second holes can be formed in an arcuate portion of the guide devicelocated between the first and second ends. Prior to drilling through thefirst and second holes, a guide block having the first and second holesformed therein can be slidably positioned in a selected position alongthe arcuate portion.

In another embodiment, a surgical method is provided that includesforming a bone tunnel in bone, forming a first transverse tunnel in thebone, and forming a second transverse tunnel in the bone. The firsttransverse tunnel can intersect the bone tunnel, and the secondtransverse tunnel can intersect the bone tunnel. A first suture can bepositioned through the anterior-posterior tunnel and through the firsttransverse tunnel such that a first portion of the first suture extendsout of the first transverse tunnel and a second portion of the firstsuture extends out of the bone tunnel. A second suture can be positionedthrough the bone tunnel and through the second transverse tunnel suchthat a first portion of the second suture extends out of the secondtransverse tunnel and a second portion of the second suture extends outof the bone tunnel. A soft tissue can be attached to the first portionof the first suture and to the first portion of the second suture. Thesecond portions of the plurality of sutures can be secured within theanterior-posterior tunnel. The bone tunnel can extend in ananterior-posterior direction, and the transverse tunnels can each extendin a medial-lateral direction. Positioning the first suture can includepositioning the first suture to extend out of the second transversetunnel, and positioning the second suture can include positioning thesecond suture to extend out of the first transverse tunnel. In someembodiments, securing the second portions of the plurality of sutureswithin the bone tunnel can include advancing a single fixation deviceinto the bone tunnel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a guide deviceincluding a bridge member and an elongate shaft;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bridge member ofa guide device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a guide deviceincluding a bridge member and an elongate shaft;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the guide device of FIG. 3 with thebridge member mated to the elongate shaft;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the elongate shaft of FIG. 1 insertedthrough a bone;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the elongate shaft of FIG. 5 with thebridge member of FIG. 1 being advanced toward the elongate shaft;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the elongate shaft mated to the bridgemember of FIG. 6, a drill being advanced through a hole formed in thebridge member and into the bone;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bone of FIG. 7 with a suture and twochias positioned in tunnels formed therein;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bone of FIG. 8 with the suturehaving portions positioned in three of the tunnels and with anothersuture having portions positioned in three of the tunnels;

FIG. 10 is a side view of one embodiment of a guide pin;

FIG. 11 is a side view of one embodiment of a suture capture device;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a distal portion of the suture capture deviceof FIG. 11 inserted into a bone tunnel formed in a bone and capturing achia positioned in another bone tunnel formed in the bone;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the guide device of FIG. 4 with theelongate shaft positioned in a bone and with a suture coupled to thebridge member and extending through bone tunnels formed in the bone;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the suture of FIG. 13 and another suturesecured in the bone with a fixation device;

FIG. 15 is a side view of one embodiment of a guide device including anL-shaped frame;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the guide device of FIG. 15 having an elongateshaft advanced through an opening formed therethrough;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the elongate shaft of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side view of a tissue and of a bone having a tunnel formedtherein and a plurality of transverse tunnels formed therein thatintersect the tunnel;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the tunnel and the transverse tunnelsof FIG. 18 having a plurality of sutures extending therethrough andcoupled to the tissue;

FIG. 20 is an anterior side view of the bone of FIG. 19 having thesutures secured therein;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a guide deviceincluding an L-shaped frame, the frame being positioned adjacent a boneand having an elongate shaft advanced through an opening formedtherethrough, the shaft being advanced into a tunnel formed in the bone;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a guide deviceincluding a frame and a guide block mounted to the frame;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the guide device of FIG. 22 having asuture probe and two drill sleeves mated thereto;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the frame of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is another side view of the frame of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of one of the drill sleeves of FIG. 23;

FIG. 27 is a side view of the drill sleeve of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a drill;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the suture probe of FIG. 23;

FIG. 30 is a side view of a distal tip of the suture probe of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a side view of the suture probe of FIG. 29 coupled to asuture that is also coupled to another suture probe;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a bone adjacent a torn tissue;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the guide device of FIG. 22 having thedrill sleeves of FIG. 23 and the drill of FIG. 28 mated thereto, theguide device being positioned adjacent the bone and the tissue of FIG.32;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the drill of FIG. 33 advanced throughthe bone;

FIG. 35 is a perspective, partial cutaway view of the drill of FIG. 34advanced through the bone and the drill sleeves of FIG. 33 advanced intothe bone;

FIG. 36 is a perspective, partial cutaway view of the drill of FIG. 35advancing a flexible tube into the bone;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of the flexible tube of FIG. 36 positionedwithin the bone;

FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the suture probe of FIG. 23 with asuture coupled thereto advanced through the guide block coupled to theguide device of FIG. 33 and into a cannula toward the tissue and thebone of FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the suture probe of FIG. 38 advancedthrough the cannula and into the tissue;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the suture probe of FIG. 39 advancedthrough the tissue and the flexible tube positioned in the bone;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the suture of FIG. 40 advanced throughthe tissue and the flexible tube positioned in the bone;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of the other suture probe of FIG. 31 withthe suture coupled thereto advanced through the guide block, thecannula, and the tissue and into the flexible tube of FIG. 41;

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the other suture probe of FIG. 42advanced through the tissue and the flexible tube positioned in thebone;

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of the suture of FIG. 43 advanced throughthe tissue and the flexible tube positioned in the bone;

FIG. 45 is a perspective view of the flexible tube of FIG. 44 beingremoved from the bone and advancing the suture therewith;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of the suture of FIG. 45 advanced out aposterior portal of the bone;

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of the suture of FIG. 46 tensioned and ofa fixation device advancing toward the posterior portal; and

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of the fixation device of FIG. 47 advancedinto the posterior portal and securing the suture therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide anoverall understanding of the principles of the structure, function,manufacture, and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One ormore examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that thedevices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and thatthe scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. Thefeatures illustrated or described in connection with one exemplaryembodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the present invention.

Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for forming bonetunnels. In general, the methods and devices can allow multipleconverging tunnels to be formed in bone, such as in an arthroscopicsurgical procedure in which tissue is secured to bone, e.g., a rotatorcuff repair surgical procedure. One or more sutures can be advancedthrough the converging tunnels, and the suture(s) can be coupled totissue. The suture(s) with the tissue coupled thereto can be tensioned,thereby helping to maximize an amount of the tissue in contact with thebone, which can facilitate healing. Different sutures coupled todifferent portions of the tissue can be advanced through different onesof the tunnels. Tensioning each of the sutures can apply forces todifferent portions of the tissue, which can help more surface area ofthe tissue contact bone. The sutures can be used to secure the tissue tothe bone without using a suture anchor or other implant device, whichcan help reduce complexity and cost of a surgical procedure.

In an exemplary embodiment, a guide device is provided that can beconfigured to allow a first tunnel to be formed in bone, e.g., ananterior-posterior tunnel, and to allow a plurality of additionaltunnels to be formed in the bone at predetermined angular positionsrelative to the first tunnel such that each of the additional tunnelscan extend transverse to the first tunnel and intersect the firsttunnel. The guide device can therefore allow intersecting tunnels to beformed without guesswork and without requiring any mathematicalcalculations to determine appropriate angular trajectories of thetunnels to ensure convergence thereof. The guide device can also beconfigured to advance one or more sutures through the first tunnel andthe additional tunnels, which can help ease introduction of the suturesinto the patient's body and/or can help ensure that the sutures passthrough the correct tunnels.

The guide devices discussed herein can be used in a variety of surgicalprocedures in which two or more tunnels are formed in bone, such as aprocedure for attaching tissue to bone, e.g., ACL repair, rotator cuffrepair, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, a procedure including use ofthe guide device can be a minimally invasive procedure, but as will beappreciated by a person skilled in the art, the guide devices discussedherein also have application in open surgical instrumentation as well asapplication in robotic-assisted surgery.

The guide devices discussed herein can be formed of any one or morematerials. In an exemplary embodiment, the guide device can be formed ofone or more biocompatible rigid materials, e.g., stainless steel,titanium, etc.

FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a guide device 100configured to aid in securing a tissue to bone by allowing multiple bonetunnels to be formed in the bone through which one or more suturescoupled to the tissue can be advanced to secure the tissue to the bone.The guide device 100 can include a bridge member 102 and a shaft 104configured to releasably mate with the bridge member 102. The guidedevice 100 can also include first and second end caps 106 a, 106 bconfigured to facilitate secure mating of the bridge member 102 and theshaft 104, as discussed further below. Generally, the bridge member 102can have a proximal end 102 p and a distal end 102 d with anintermediate portion 102 i extending between the proximal and distalends 102 p, 102 d. The intermediate portion 102 i can extend linearlybetween first and second legs 102 a, 102 b of the bridge member 102 thatcan extend transversely from the intermediate portion 102 i. A pluralityof holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be formed through the intermediateportion 102 i. The shaft 104 can include an elongate member having aninner lumen 110 extending between a proximal end 104 p of the shaft 104and a distal end 104 d of the shaft 104 such that the shaft 104 iscannulated. The shaft 104 can also include one or more openings 112 a,112 b, 112 c formed in an intermediate portion of the shaft 104extending between the proximal and distal ends 104 p, 104 d. When theshaft 104 and the bridge member 102 are mated together, respectivelongitudinal axes A1, A2, A3 of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can beconfigured to pass through the one or more openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 cformed in the shaft 104 and to intersect the inner lumen 110. Each oneof the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can therefore be configured topredictably align with one of the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c. Asurgical device, e.g., a drill, a suture, etc., can thus be insertedthrough each of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c and predictably passthrough the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c and extend into the inner lumen110 of the shaft 104. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the openings112 a, 112 b, 112 c can be configured to coaxially align with one of theholes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c of the bridge member 102 when the bridgemember 102 is mated to the shaft 104.

As discussed further below, in use, the shaft 104 can be inserted intobone such that the proximal and distal ends 104 p, 104 d of the shaft104 are positioned outside the bone and such that an intermediateportion of the shaft 104 extending between the proximal and distal ends104 p, 104 d is positioned within the bone. The proximal and distal ends102 p, 102 d of the bridge member 102 can be respectively mated to theproximal and distal ends 104 p, 104 d of the shaft 104 positionedoutside the bone with the bridge member's intermediate portion 102 ialso being positioned outside the bone. With the bridge member 102 matedto the shaft 104, second, third, and fourth bone tunnels can be drilledinto the bone respectively through the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c formedthrough the bridge member's intermediate portion 102 i and predictablypass through the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c formed in the shaft 104 toextend into the inner lumen 110 of the shaft 104, thereby predictablyintersecting the first bone tunnel. The intersecting bone tunnels canfacilitate securing a soft tissue to the bone.

The bridge member 102 can have a variety of sizes, shapes, andconfigurations. The bridge member 102 can have a non-linear ornon-straight shape, e.g., a u-shape. The non-linear or non-straightshape can facilitate positioning of the bridge member 102 entirelyoutside a patient's body by allowing the bridge member 102 to arc aroundthe patient's body, e.g., around a joint such as a shoulder or a knee.Each of the legs 102 a, 102 b and the intermediate portion 102 i can belinear or straight as in this illustrated embodiment such that the guidemember's u-shape can be a “hard” u-shape including two right angles. Inother words, each of the legs 102 a, 102 b can extend from theintermediate portion 102 i at a right angle. Although the legs 102 a,102 b are non-adjustably connected to the intermediate potion 102 a inthe illustrated embodiment, one or both of the legs can be adjustablyconnected to the intermediate portion, such as by being hingedlyconnected thereto. By having adjustably connected legs, a bridge membercan be flattened out linearly, which can facilitate packaging andtransporting the bridge member. In another embodiment, a guide devicecan include a bridge member having a “soft” u-shape in which the bridgemember includes legs at non-right angles to an intermediate portion ofthe bridge member. As shown in one embodiment in FIG. 2, a bridge member202 of a guide device can have a u-shape, but an intermediate portion202 i of the bridge member 202 including a plurality of holes 208 formedthrough and extending between proximal and distal ends 202 p, 202 d ofthe bridge member 202 can have a non-linear or non-straight shape, e.g.,an arcuate shape, such that the bridge member has a “soft” u-shape. Thebridge member 202 includes four holes 208 in this illustratedembodiment, but a guide device can include a bridge member having anynumber of holes formed therethrough. In an exemplary embodiment, abridge member can include a plurality of holes, e.g., two or more, whichcan facilitate securing a soft tissue to bone, as discussed furtherbelow.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the intermediate portion 102 i and each ofthe legs 102 a, 102 b can have any longitudinal length. The intermediateportion 102 i can have a longitudinal length L1 less than a longitudinallength L2 of the shaft 104, which can facilitate mating the proximal anddistal ends 102 p, 102 d of the bridge member 102 to the shaft 104. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal length L1 of theintermediate portion 102 i defines a longitudinal length of the bridgemember 102 since the legs 102 a, 102 b extend transversely therefrom.Each of the legs 102 a, 102 b can have longitudinal lengths L3 equal toone another, which can facilitate stable mating of the bridge member 102to the shaft 104. The longitudinal lengths L3 of the legs 102 a, 102 bin the illustrated embodiment are less than the longitudinal length L1of the intermediate portion 102 i, but the longitudinal lengths L3 ofthe legs 102 a, 102 b can be equal to or greater than the longitudinallength L1 of the intermediate portion 102 i. The longitudinal lengths L3of the legs 102 a, 102 b can define a height of the bridge member 102and hence a clearance distance between the bridge member 102 and anexterior tissue surface of a patient, e.g., a skin surface, when theshaft 104 is inserted through a patient's bone and the bridge member 102is mated to the shaft 104 external to the patient.

The longitudinal lengths L3 of the legs 102 a, 102 b can benon-changeably fixed, as in the illustrated embodiment. In anotherembodiment, a bridge member of a guide device can include legs havingvariable longitudinal lengths, e.g., be configured to be telescoping,which can facilitate positioning of the bridge member relative to thepatient's body. Generally, the closer that holes formed through thebridge member are to a patient's external tissue surface, the morepredictably and more easily a surgical device, e.g., a drill, a suture,a suture capture device, etc., can be inserted through the holes andinto the patient. In an exemplary embodiment, the bridge member used ina surgical procedure can be configured to abut an exterior tissuesurface of a patient at least where holes are formed through the bridgemember, e.g., at least a portion of the bridge member's intermediateportion, which can help any surgical devices inserted through the holesbe directed into the patient at a predictable location with minimaldisplacement in any empty space between the bridge member and theexterior tissue surface. A bridge member having legs with variablelongitudinal lengths can allow lengths of the legs to be increased ordecreased as appropriate to abut the bridge member's intermediateportion against the patient's exterior tissue surface. Similarly, abridge member having legs with non-changeably fixed longitudinal lengthscan be selected from a plurality of bridge members each having legs withnon-changeably fixed longitudinal lengths so the bridge member havinglegs with the most appropriate longitudinal lengths can be selected foruse in a particular surgical procedure with a particular patient.

The holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c formed through the intermediate portion102 i can have a variety of different sizes, shapes, and configurations.Although the intermediate portion 102 i includes three holes, asmentioned above, a guide device's bridge member can include any numberof holes formed therethrough. In an exemplary embodiment, each of theholes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be identical to one another, which canfacilitate formation of identically sized and shaped bone tunnels usingthe holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c as guides, as discussed further below. Theholes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c are cylindrical with circular cross-sectionalshapes in the illustrated embodiment, which can facilitate passage of acylindrical drill guide and/or cylindrical drill therethrough. The holes108 a, 108 b, 108 c can, however, have other shapes.

The holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can extend through the bridge member 102such that the longitudinal axes A1, A2, A3 of the holes 108 a, 108 b,108 c, respectively, are substantially parallel to one another. Sucharrangement of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can allow formation ofsubstantially parallel bone tunnels using the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 cas guides. Respective planes of the legs 102 a, 102 b can besubstantially parallel to each other and to the holes' longitudinal axesA1, A2, A3, as in the illustrated embodiment where the bridge member 102has a “hard” u-shape. The respective longitudinal axes A1, A2, A3 of theholes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c need not be substantially parallel to oneanother.

The holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be located anywhere along thelongitudinal length L1 of the intermediate portion 102 i. In anexemplary embodiment, the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be centeredalong the intermediate portion 102 i. Such centered longitudinalpositioning of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can help ensure that all ofthe holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c are positioned over a patient's exteriortissue surface when the bridge member 102 is positioned relativethereto, as discussed further below. The holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c canalso be centered latitudinally in the intermediate portion 102 i, e.g.,the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be configured as cylindrical bores.

A bridge member of a guide device can include a plurality of holes thatare offset longitudinally and/or latitudinally in an intermediateportion of the bridge member. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate anotherembodiment of a guide device 300 that includes a bridge member 302having a plurality of holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c formed therethrough thatare each offset latitudinally in an intermediate portion 302 i of thebridge member 302. The holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c each have asemi-circular cross-sectional shape. The holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c inthe illustrated embodiments are formed through a side of theintermediate portion 302 i, but a bridge member's holes can be offsetlatitudinally without being formed through a side of the bridge member'sintermediate portion. The guide device 300 also includes shaft 304configured to be releasably matable to the bridge member 302. When theshaft 304 and the bridge member 302 are mated together, respectivelongitudinal axes A4, A5, A6 of the holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c can beconfigured to pass through one or more openings 312 formed in the shaft304 and to intersect an inner lumen 310 extending through the shaft 304.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the bridge member 102 can include one or moreconnector features configured to facilitate mating of the bridge member102 to the shaft 104. The one or more connector features can helpposition the bridge member 102 in a predetermined orientation relativeto the shaft 104, which can help ensure that the bridge member's holes108 a, 108 b, 108 c are automatically coaxially aligned with the shaft'sopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c when the bridge member 102 is mated to theshaft 104. Because the shaft's openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can bepositioned within a patient's body when the bridge member 102 is matedto the shaft 104, and can therefore be difficult to visualize, theconnector features can facilitate automatic alignment of the holes 108a, 108 b, 108 c with the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c even withoutcomplete visualization of the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c.

The connector features can have a variety of sizes, shapes, andconfigurations. The connector features can include cut-outs 114 a, 114 bformed in the bridge member 102 that can be configured to seat the shaft104 therein. In an exemplary embodiment, the bridge member 102 caninclude two cut-outs 114 a, 114 b, one in the proximal end 102 p of thebridge member 102 in the first leg 102 a and another in the distal end102 d of the bridge member 102 in the second leg 102 b. In this way, thecut-outs 114 a, 114 b can be configured to seat the shaft 104 thereinwhen the intermediate portion of the shaft 104 is disposed within bone.The cut-outs 114 a, 114 b can each have a size and shape correspondingto an external size and shape of the shaft 104. In the illustratedembodiment, the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b each have u-shaped cross sectionsconfigured to seat the shaft 104, which is cylindrical in theillustrated embodiment. As discussed further below, at least one of theconnector features can be configured to be keyed to the shaft 104 so asto align the bridge member 102 in a predetermined orientation relativeto the shaft 104 when the connector features engage the shaft 104.

In addition or in alternative to the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b, the bridgemember 102 can include connector features in the form of visual marks,e.g., lines, colors, lights, symbols, etc., and/or tactile marks, e.g.,grooves, etc., configured to align with corresponding surface feature(s)of the shaft 104, as discussed further below.

The shaft 104 can have a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations.The shaft 104 can have a cylindrical shape and can have a circularcross-sectional shape, which can facilitate formation of a cylindricalbone tunnel using the shaft 104 and/or insertion of the shaft 104 into acylindrical bone tunnel. The shaft 104 can have any longitudinal lengthL2, but as mentioned above, in an exemplary embodiment, the shaft'slongitudinal length L2 can be greater than the longitudinal length L1 ofthe intermediate portion 102 i. The shaft 104 in the illustratedembodiment is cannulated, but a shaft can be partially cannulated, suchas by having a solid or closed proximal end.

The openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c formed through the shaft 104 can have avariety of different sizes, shapes, and configurations. Although theshaft 104 includes three openings, as mentioned above, a guide device'sshaft can include any number of openings formed therethrough. The numberof openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can equal a number of holes 108 a, 108b, 108 c formed through the bridge member 102, as in the illustratedembodiment, or the numbers of openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c and holes 108a, 108 b, 108 c can differ. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of ashaft 304 including a single opening 312. The longitudinal axes A3, A4,A5 of the holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c of the bridge member 302 can eachpass through the opening 312 when the bridge member 302 is mated to theshaft 304, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in an exemplary embodiment, each of theopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can be identical to one another, which canfacilitate formation of identically sized and shaped bone tunnels usingthe openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c as guides, as discussed further below.The openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c have circular cross-sectional shapes inthe illustrated embodiment, which can facilitate passage of acylindrical drill guide and/or cylindrical drill therethrough. Theopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can, however, have other shapes. Theopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can extend all the way through the shaft104 or, as in the illustrated embodiment, the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112c can be formed through one side of the shaft 104. In this way, asurgical device inserted into the inner lumen 110 through any of theopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can be less likely to pass out of the innerlumen 110 until and if the device is intentionally removed therefrom.

As mentioned above, the shaft 104 can include one or more surfacefeatures configured to align with corresponding connector features ofthe bridge member 102. The one or more surface features can have avariety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. The one or more surfacefeatures can be in the form of visual marks, e.g., lines, colors,lights, symbols, etc., and/or tactile marks, e.g., grooves, etc.,configured to align with corresponding connector feature(s) of thebridge member 102. Additionally or alternatively, the one or moresurfaces features can include tracks 116 a, 116 b formed in an externalsurface of the shaft 104 that are configured to engage the connectorfeatures of the bridge member 102, e.g., engage the cut-outs 114 a, 114b. The tracks 116 a, 116 b can generally include depressions or scoresformed in the shaft 104. The tracks 116 a, 116 b can have a size andshape corresponding to a size and shape of the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b andcan extend around a partial perimeter or circumference of the shaft'sexternal surface. The tracks 116 a, 116 b can therefore be keyed to thecut-outs 114 a, 114 b such that when the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b engagethe tracks 116 a, 116 b, the bridge member 102 can be aligned in apredetermined orientation relative to the shaft 104. Although all of thetracks 116 a, 116 b are keyed to the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b in theillustrated embodiment, a bridge member can have any one or more of itsconnector features keyed to a shaft matable to the bridge member. Inanother embodiment, tracks can extend entirely around a perimeter orcircumference of a shaft's external surface. A bridge member cannevertheless be configured to mate to the shaft in a predeterminedorientation relative thereto via one or more additional surface featuresand connector features configured to indicate alignment of the bridgemember relative to the shaft, such as by aligning corresponding symbols,e.g., dots, formed on the bridge member and the shaft with the bridgemember engaging the shaft's tracks. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate anembodiment of a shaft 304 including surface features 316 a, 316 b in theform of colored lines formed on an external surface of the shaft 304around a partial perimeter or circumference of the shaft 304. Thesurface features 316 a, 316 b can indicate where connector features 314a, 314 b of the bridge member 302 can contact the shaft 304 so as toalign the holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c with the opening 312.

Referring again to FIG. 1, as mentioned above, the first and second endcaps 106 a, 106 b can be configured to facilitate secure mating of thebridge member 102 and the shaft 104, which can help reduce movement ofthe bridge member 102 along the longitudinal length L2 of the shaft 104when the bridge member 102 and the shaft 104 are mated together. Suchreduction of movement can facilitate predictable insertion of surgicaldevices through the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c and into the inner lumen110. In other words, the end caps 106 b, 106 c can be configured to helpmaintain coaxial alignment of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c with theopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c.

The first and second end caps 106 a, 106 b can be configured to mate tothe bridge member's first and second legs 102 a, 102 b, respectively, soas to sandwich or position the shaft 104 therebetween, as shown in FIG.7 and as discussed further below. The end caps 106 a, 106 b can have avariety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. The end caps 106 a, 106 bcan each include a cut-out 120 a, 120 b formed therein that can beconfigured to seat the shaft 104 therein, e.g., an opposite side of theshaft 104 from that seated in the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b of the bridgemember 102. The cut-outs 120 a, 120 b can each have a size and shapecorresponding to the external size and shape of the shaft 104. In theillustrated embodiment, the cut-outs 120 a, 120 b each have u-shapedcross sections configured to seat the shaft 104, which is cylindrical inthe illustrated embodiment.

The first and second end caps 106 a, 106 b can be configured to mate tothe bridge member 102 in a variety of ways, e.g., snap fit, compressionfit, magnets, etc. The first and second end caps 106 a, 106 b in theillustrated embodiment each include at least one male member orprotrusion 118 configured to be received in a corresponding femalemember or depression (not shown) formed in the bridge member 102, e.g.,formed in the first and second legs 102 a, 102 b adjacent the cut-outs114 a, 114 b, so as to mate the end caps 106 a, 106 b to the bridgemember 102 by compression fit.

A guide device kit can be provided including one or more cannulatedshafts and one or more bridge members each configured to releasably mateto at least one of the cannulated shafts. The kit can optionally includeone or more end caps configured to mate with one or more of the bridgemembers to help secure a cannulated shaft thereto. Each of the shaftscan have a different size, different shape, and/or differentconfiguration than the other shafts, and each of the bridge members canhave a different size, different shape, and/or different configurationthan the other bridge members. In this way, the bridge member having themost appropriate size, shape, and configuration, and the shaft havingthe most appropriate size, shape, and configuration, can be selected foruse in a particular surgical procedure with a particular patient, whichcan help a single kit accommodate various graft sizes, differentsurgical procedures, and different patient anatomies. The guide devicekit can include one or more additional surgical tools configured to beused with a guide device, e.g., one or more sutures, one or more drills,one or more drill guides, etc.

In use, as mentioned above, the guide devices disclosed herein can beused in a minimally invasive surgical procedure for securing a ligamentgraft to bone. Generally, the patient can first be prepared for thesurgery using standard techniques. A suitable graft can be provided, forexample, through harvesting a semitendinosus graft from the patient, orby providing an allograft, although any type and source of graft can beimplanted using the methods of this invention, including soft tissuegrafts and grafts terminated with bone blocks or substitute rigidmaterials.

FIGS. 5-9 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a surgical procedure fortunnel repair. Although the procedure is illustrated with respect to theguide device 100 of FIG. 1, any of the guide devices disclosed hereincan be similarly used. Also, although the procedure is illustrated withrespect to a rotator cuff repair at a shoulder, any of the guide devicesdisclosed herein can be used at a variety of anatomical locations torepair various tissue problems.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first bone tunnel, cross tunnel, horizontaltunnel, or anterior-posterior tunnel 124, generally referred to hereinas a “first bone tunnel,” can be formed in a bone 122 of a patient,e.g., a shoulder bone. The first bone tunnel 124 can be formed in thebone 122 in a variety of ways, as will be appreciated by a personskilled in the art, such as by drilling with a drill through an anteriorportal 126 on an anterior side of the bone 122 and out a posteriorportal (not shown) on a posterior side of the bone 122. The first bonetunnel 124 can have any size and shape. In an exemplary embodiment, thefirst bone tunnel 124 can have a cylindrical shape and a circularcross-section, although the first bone tunnel 124 can have other shapes.The first bone tunnel 124 can have a maximum diameter in an exemplaryembodiment of less than about 5 mm, e.g., about 4 mm or about 3 mm. Theshaft 104 can be advanced into the first bone tunnel 124 as the firstbone tunnel 124 is being formed, or the shaft 104 can be advancedtherein after the first bone tunnel 124 has been formed. One or moresutures (not shown) can be positioned within the inner lumen 110 of theshaft 104 when the shaft 104 is advanced into the bone 122.

The shaft 104 can be positioned within the first bone tunnel 124 withthe proximal and distal ends 104 p, 104 d of the shaft 104 locatedoutside the bone 122 and with the intermediate portion of the shaft 104positioned within the bone 122, as shown in FIG. 5. In particular, theproximal end 104 p of the shaft 104 can be located outside the bone 122on the posterior side of the bone 122, and the distal end 104 d of theshaft 104 can be located outside the bone 122 on the anterior side ofthe bone 122. If the shaft 104 includes surface features, e.g., thetracks 116 a, 116 b, the surface features can also be located outsidethe bone 122, which can facilitate mating of the bridge member 102 tothe shaft 104.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the shaft 104 extends through the bone 122, thebridge member 102 can be advanced in a direction indicated by arrow A1into mating engagement with the shaft 104. The shaft 104 can be seatedin the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b, with the bridge member 102 engaging thetracks 116 a, 116 a. The shaft 104 can be rotated about a longitudinalaxis thereof within the first bone tunnel 124 before and/or after thebridge member 102 is mated to the shaft 104 to position the tracks 116a, 116 b at a selected position relative to the bone 122 so the bridgemember 102 when mated to the shaft 104 can be at a desired positionrelative to the bone 122. Additionally or alternatively, after thebridge member 102 has been mated to the shaft 104, the bridge member 102can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 104 to positionthe bridge member 102 at a selected position relative to the bone 122.The end caps 106 a, 106 b can be mated to the bridge member 102 afterthe shaft 104 has engaged the bridge member 102, e.g., after the shaft104 has been seated in the cut-outs 114 a, 114 b. The bridge member 102can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 104 beforeand/or after the end caps 106 a, 106 b are mated to the bridge member102. The shaft 104 can rotate with the bridge member 102 such that thelongitudinal axes A1, A2, A3 of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can remaincoaxial with longitudinal axes of the shaft's openings 112 a, 112 b, 112c as the bridge member 102 rotates. The tracks 116 a, 116 b, as well asthe end caps 106 a, 106 b, can be configured to help maintain the bridgemember 102 and the shaft 104 in such a predetermined orientationrelative to one another with the respective axes of the holes 108 a, 108b 108 c and openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c being coaxial. FIG. 7illustrates the bridge member 102 mated to the shaft 104, the end caps106 a, 106 b mated to the bridge member 102, and a distal surface of theintermediate portion 102 i abutting an external tissue surface of thepatient. As in the illustrated embodiment, when the shaft 104 is seatedin the proximal and distal connector features of the bridge member 102,the proximal end of the shaft 104 p can extend proximally beyond theproximal end 102 p of the bridge member 102 outside the bone 122, andthe distal end 104 d of the shaft 104 can extend distally beyond thedistal end 102 d of the bridge member 102 outside the bone 122. Inanother exemplary embodiment, a shaft can be configured to mate to abridge member such that proximal and distal ends of the shaft do notextend proximally beyond a proximal end of the bridge member or distallybeyond a distal end of the bridge member.

One or more additional bone tunnels or transverse tunnels can be formedin the bone 122 of a patient using one or more of the holes 108 a, 108b, 108 c of the guide device 100 as guides. In an exemplary embodiment,an additional bone tunnel can be formed using each of the holes 108 a,108 b, 108 c such that a number of additional bone tunnels equals anumber of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c. Because the longitudinal axesA1, A2, A3 of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be coaxial with thelongitudinal axes of the shaft's openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c when thebridge member 102 is mated to the shaft 104, the additional bonetunnel(s) can each predictably intersect the first bone tunnel 124. Theadditional bone tunnel(s) can be formed in any way, such as by advancinga drill 128 sequentially through each of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 cin a direction shown by arrow A2 in FIG. 7. The additional bonetunnel(s) can each have any size and shape. In an exemplary embodiment,the each of the additional bone tunnel(s) can have a cylindrical shapeand a circular cross-section, although the additional bone tunnel(s) canhave other shapes. The additional bone tunnel(s) can each have a maximumdiameter in an exemplary embodiment of less than about 2 mm, e.g., about1.5 mm. Although the drill 128 is shown being first advanced through thefirst hole 108 a, the additional bone tunnel(s) can be formed using anyof the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c as guides and can be formedtherethrough in any order. Because the openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c canbe aligned with the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, the drill 128 can advancethrough a one of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c, through the externaltissue surface, into the bone 124, and through an associated one of theopenings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c such that the additional bone tunnel formedby the drill 128 extends from outside the patient's body into the firstbone tunnel 124. The openings 112 a, 112 b, 112 c can help ensure thatthe additional bone tunnel(s) are drilled along the coaxial axes suchthat each of the additional bone tunnel(s) can be substantially parallelto one another and transverse to the first bone tunnel 124. Although, asmentioned above, the respective axes A1, A2, A3 of the holes 108 a, 108b, 108 c, and hence the respective longitudinal axes of the openings 112a, 112 b, 112 c, need not be substantially parallel to one another,though in an exemplary embodiment, the respective axes A1, A2, A3 of theholes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c can be aligned such that bone tunnels formedthrough the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c each intersect the first bonetunnel 124 without intersecting one another. The presence of the firstbone tunnel 124 in the bone 122 can indicate by feel when each of theadditional bone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 c should stop being drilled,and/or an interior surface of the shaft 104 can help prevent the drill128 from drilling past the first bone tunnel 124. Additionally oralternatively, the shaft 104 can be visualized, e.g., with a scopingdevice inserted into the patient, to help prevent overdrilling of theadditional bone tunnel(s). Second, third, and fourth bone tunnels 130 a,130 b, 130 c formed using each of the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108 c asguides, respectively, are shown in FIG. 8.

After the second, third, and fourth bone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 chave been formed in the bone 122, the bridge member 102 can be rotatedabout the longitudinal axis of the shaft 104 to position the bridgemember 102 at a different position relative to the bone 122. One or moreadditional bone tunnels can be formed using the holes 108 a, 108 b, 108c as guides with the bridge member 102 in this secondary locationrelative to the bone 122. These one or more additional bone tunnels canbe substantially parallel to one another, transverse to the first bonetunnel 124, and with longitudinal axes thereof intersecting thelongitudinal axes of the previously formed additional tunnels 130 a, 130b, 130 c, although the additional tunnels need not be substantiallyparallel to one another. The one or more additional tunnels can allow asame tissue secured to the bone using the previously formed additionaltunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 c to be tensioned and secured to the bone 122from different angles than the previously formed additional tunnels 130a, 130 b, 130 c, which can provide redundancy in case of suture failureand can help urge the tissue into greater contact with the bone 122,which can facilitate healing and can help keep the tissue in greatercontact with the bone 122 as the patient moves.

At least one suture can be positioned within the first bone tunnel 124and at least one of the additional bone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 c. Asmentioned above, at least one suture can be positioned in the shaft 104when the shaft 104 is advanced into the bone 122. In an exemplaryembodiment, at least one suture can be advanced into the first bonetunnel 124 after the shaft 104 has been inserted into the bone 122 andremoved therefrom after the additional bone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 chave been formed. In other words, the at least one suture can bepositioned directly within the first bone tunnel 124. The shaft 104 canbe removed from the bone 122 by advancing the shaft 104 in an anteriordirection, as shown by arrow A3 in FIG. 7, and out of the anteriorportal 126. The shaft 104 instead be advanced in a posterior directionand out of the posterior portal.

The at least one suture can be positioned in the first bone tunnel 124in a variety of ways, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in theart. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one suture can be coupledto a suture placement device and advanced into the first bone tunnel124. FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a suture placement device inthe form of a guide pin 132. The guide pin 132 can generally be a rigidelongate member configured to be advanced into a patient's body. A firstsuture 134 a can be coupled to the guide pin 132 by, e.g., passingthrough an eyelet 136 formed through a distal end of the guide pin 132.A proximal end of the guide pin 132 can be advanced into the first bonetunnel 124, e.g., through the anterior portal 126 and advancedtherethrough, trailing the first suture 134 a at the distal end of theguide pin 132 so as to advance the first suture 134 a into the firstbone tunnel 124 as the distal end of the guide pin 132 advanced throughthe first bone tunnel 124 and out the bone 122 through the posteriorportal. The first suture 134 a is shown extending through the first bonetunnel 124 in FIG. 8 after the guide pin 132 has been detached from thefirst suture 134 a, e.g., by cutting the first suture 134 a. The firstsuture 134 a is shown as a single, unfolded strand of suture, but thefirst suture 134 a can include multiple sutures and/or or a foldedsuture.

Prior to advancing the first suture 134 a into the first bone tunnel124, at least one suture capture device can be advanced into the firstbone tunnel 124 so as to capture the first suture 134 a when the firstsuture 134 a passes through the first bone tunnel 124. The suturecapture device can have a variety of configurations. In an exemplaryembodiment, the suture capture device can include a chia, such as theChia Percpasser™ available from Depuy Mitek, Inc. of Raynham, Mass.Generally, a chia can be configured similar to a needle and include athin elongate member having an eyelet or kite at one end thereof throughwhich at least one suture can pass. The chia can be formed of a varietyof materials, e.g., stainless steel, a shape memory material such asNitinol, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, first andsecond chias 138 a, 138 b can be advanced through the third and fourthbone tunnels 130 b, 130 c, respectively, prior to the first suture 134 abeing advanced into the first bone tunnel 124. In this way, when thefirst suture 134 a is advanced into the first bone tunnel 124, the firstsuture 134 a can pass through kites 140 a, 140 b at ends of the chias138 a, 138 b so as to be captured by the chias 138 a, 138 b, as shown inFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a suture capture device 144configured to advance the chias 138 a, 138 b into the bone 122. Thedevice 144 can include a handle 146 having a cannulated elongate shaft148 extending therefrom. The handle 146 can include an actuator, e.g., athumbwheel 150, configured to be actuated to move a grasper wire 154 inand out a distal end 152 of the elongate shaft 148. The grasper wire 154can have a hook at a distal tip thereof that can be configured to “hook”an eyelet such as a chia's kite. The actuator is illustrated as athumbwheel 150 in this embodiment, but the actuator can have otherconfigurations, e.g., a button, a lever, a knob, am electric switch,etc. The distal end 152 can have be angled at about 90 degrees from aremainder of the elongate shaft 148, which can allow the device 144 toadvance the grasper wire 154 in and out of a bone tunnel, e.g., one ofthe bone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 c, that is substantiallyperpendicular to a bone tunnel in which the elongate shaft 148 primarilyextends, e.g., the first bone tunnel 124. The grasper wire 154 can beflexible so as to allow the grasper wire 154 to bend at thesubstantially 90 degree angle at the shaft's distal end 152. FIG. 12shows the elongate shaft 148 extending primarily through the first bontunnel 124 with the distal end 152 thereof angled to allow the grasperwire 154 to exit the elongate shaft 148 and enter the fourth bone tunnel130 c. FIG. 12 also shows the grasper wire 154 extending through thefourth bone tunnel 130 c and grasping the second chia 138 b. Thethumbwheel 150 can be further actuated to advance the grasper wire 154and the second chia 138 b toward the first bone tunnel 124 to positionthe kite 140 b therein.

With the first suture 134 a captured by the chias 138 a, 138 b, thechias 138 a, 138 b can be retracted from the second and third bonetunnels 130 b, 130 c, respectively, to pull the first suture 134 atherethrough. The first suture 134 a can therefore be positioned withinthe first bone tunnel 124 and within two of the additional bone tunnels.As shown in FIG. 9, a first portion of the first suture 134 a can extendthrough the third bone tunnel 130 b, a second portion of the firstsuture 134 a can extend through the fourth bone tunnel 130 c, and anintermediate portion of the first suture 134 a extending between thefirst and second portions can extend through the first bone tunnel 124.A second suture 134 b can be similarly positioned to extend through thefirst bone tunnel 124, the second bone tunnel 130 a and the third bonetunnel 130 b. Each of the sutures 134 a, 134 b in the illustratedembodiment extend through adjacent additional bone tunnels, e.g., thethird and fourth tunnels 130 b, 130 c for the first suture 134 a and thesecond and third tunnels 130 a, 130 b for the second suture 134 b, but asuture can be advanced through non-adjacent additional bone tunnels,e.g., the second tunnel 130 a and the fourth tunnel 130 c. Theadditional tunnels through which a suture extends can depend on one ormore factors such as patient anatomy, a total number of sutures, where atissue coupled to the suture is intended to be secured to the bone 122,etc. In an exemplary embodiment, a number of sutures positioned in thefirst bone tunnel 124 can be one equal to or less than a number ofadditional bone tunnels, e.g., two sutures 134 a, 134 b in thisillustrated embodiment including three additional bone tunnels 130 a,130 b, 130 c. The sutures 134 a, 134 b can be color-coded or otherwisemarked for unique identification, which can help identify the sutures134 a, 134 b for tensioning and tissue securing purposes. The uniquemarking can also help ensure that each of the sutures 134 a, 134 b hasproperly passed through the bone tunnels.

One or more tissues (not shown) can be attached to each of the sutures134 a, 134 b, e.g., by whip stitch, by knotting, etc. The sutures 134 a,134 b can be tensioned, e.g., pulled, to urge the tissue into contactwith the bone 122, and can be thereafter secured, e.g., by knotting. Thesutures 134 a, 134 b can be individually tensioned, which can allowdifferent portions of the tissue to which the different sutures 134 a,134 b are attached to be tensioned and brought into close contact withthe bone 122. The anterior portal 126 and the posterior portal can beclosed for healing, such as by being sewn or sutured shut as shown inFIG. 9. The anterior portal 126 and the posterior portal can be closedat any point after the shaft 104 had been removed from the first bonetunnel 124 and the sutures 134 a, 134 b have been positioned in thefirst bone tunnel 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the anterior portal126 and the posterior portal can be closed after the tissue has beensecured to the bone, which can facilitate adjustment and/or replacementof the sutures 134 a, 134 b and/or adding one or more additionalsutures, before the tissue is secured in place.

The procedure illustrated in FIGS. 5-9 involves knotted tunnel repair inwhich the one or more sutures used to secure tissue to bone can beknotted to so secure the tissue. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate anembodiment of a surgical procedure for knotless tunnel repair. Althoughthe procedure is illustrated with respect to the guide device 300 ofFIGS. 3 and 4, any of the guide devices disclosed herein can besimilarly used. Also, although the procedure is illustrated with respectto a rotator cuff repair at a shoulder, any of the guide devicesdisclosed herein can be similarly used in another type of procedure.

The procedure of FIGS. 13 and 14 can generally be similar to theprocedure of FIGS. 5-9. A first bone tunnel 324 can be formed in a bone322 of a patient. A plurality of additional bone tunnels 330 a, 330 b,330 c can be formed in the bone 322 to intersect the first bone tunnel324 using the holes 308 a, 308 b, 308 c of the bridge member 302 asguides. As shown in FIG. 13, a first suture 334 a can be positioned inthe second bone tunnel 330 a and the third bone tunnel 330 b such that afirst portion of the first suture 334 a can extend through the secondbone tunnel 330 a, a second portion of the first suture 334 a can extendthrough the third bone tunnel 330 b, and an intermediate portion of thefirst suture 334 a extending between the first and second portions canbe positioned outside the bone 322 and extend between the second andthird tunnels 330 a, 330 b. Ends of the first suture 334 a can bepositioned within the first bone tunnel 324. The ends of the firstsuture 334 a within the first bone tunnel 324 can be captured using asuture capture device, e.g., a hook, a grasper, etc., advancedanteriorly through an anterior portal 326 into the first bone tunnel324, and advanced out of the first bone tunnel 324 by removing thesuture capture device form the first bone tunnel 324 with the suture 334a captured thereto, e.g., by removing the suture capture device from theanterior portal 326 through which is was inserted. The ends of the firstsuture 334 a can thus be pulled out of the first bone tunnel 324, andthe first suture 334 a can be tensioned and secured to secure to thebone 322 a tissue 342 attached to the intermediate portion of the firstsuture 334 a, as shown in FIG. 14.

A second suture 334 b can be similarly positioned in the third bonetunnel 330 b and the fourth bone tunnel 330 c such that a first portionof the second suture 334 b can extend through the third bone tunnel 330b, a second portion of the second suture 334 b can extend through thefourth bone tunnel 330 c, and an intermediate portion of the secondsuture 334 b extending between the first and second portions can bepositioned outside the bone 322 and extend between the third and fourthtunnels 330 b, 330 c. The ends of the second suture 334 b can be pulledout of the first bone tunnel 324, and the second suture 334 b can betensioned and secured to secure to the bone 322 the tissue 342 attachedto the intermediate portion of the second suture 334 b, as shown in FIG.14. Similar to that mentioned above, the first and second sutures 334 a,334 b can be color-coded or otherwise uniquely identified.

The first and second sutures 334 a, 334 b can be secured within thefirst bone tunnel 324 to secure the tissue 342 to the bone 322. Thefirst and second sutures 334 a, 334 b can be secured in a variety ofways. In an exemplary embodiment, a single fixation device 344 can beadvanced into the first bone tunnel 324 to secure the sutures 334 a, 334b. Although the fixation device is illustrated as a pin 344 in FIG. 14,the fixation device can have a variety of configurations, e.g., a screw,a suture anchor, cement, a pin, etc. Securing a plurality of sutures 334a, 334 b with a single fixation device can reduce an amount of hardwareimplanted in a patient, which can reduce infection risk, can save timeand effort during a surgical procedure because each of the sutures 334a, 334 b need not be individually attended to for securing, and becausethe sutures 334 a, 334 b need not be knotted, which can betime-consuming and cumbersome.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a guidedevice 400 configured to aid in securing a tissue to bone by allowingmultiple bone tunnels to be formed in the bone through which one or moresutures coupled to the tissue can be advanced to secure the tissue tothe bone. The guide device 400 can include a frame 402 including a baseportion 402 b and an arm portion 402 a extending transversely from thebase portion 402 b. The base portion 402 b can have an opening 412formed therethrough configured to slidably receive a surgical instrumentsuch as a cannulated shaft 404, shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 and discussedfurther below.

The arm portion 402 a of the frame 402 can have a plurality of holes 406a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d formed therethrough. Although the arm portion 402a of the frame 402 includes four holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d in theillustrated embodiment, an arm portion of a frame can include any numberof holes, similar to that discussed above regarding holes of a guidedevice's bridge member. The holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d can belocated anywhere along a longitudinal length of the arm portion 402 a,although in an exemplary embodiment they can be located adjacent a freeterminal end thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the holes 406 a, 406b, 406 c, 406 d can be centered along the arm portion 402 a. Alsosimilar to that discussed above regarding the holes of a guide device'sbridge member, respective longitudinal axes a7, a8, a9, al0 of theframe's holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d can be substantially parallelto one another, and the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d can have anysize and shape and can be centered or offset latitudinally in the armportion 402 a. In another embodiment, the respective longitudinal axesa7, a8, a9, al0 of the frame's holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d need notbe substantially parallel to one another, also similar to that discussedabove. In the illustrated embodiment, the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406d are centered latitudinally in the arm portion 402 a and are configuredas cylindrical bores. A longitudinal axis all of the frame's opening 412can be substantially perpendicular to the respective longitudinal axesa7, a8, a9, al0 of the frame's holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d, whichcan facilitate capture of sutures extending through the holes 406 a, 406b, 406 c, 406 d as discussed further below.

The base and arm portions 402 b, 402 a can each have any longitudinallength. A longitudinal length of the base portion 402 b can define aheight of the guide device 400 and hence a clearance distance betweenthe arm portion 402 a and an exterior tissue surface, e.g., a skinsurface, when the guide device 400 is positioned outside a patient'sbody, as discussed further below. The longitudinal length of the baseportion 402 b can be non-changeably fixed, as in the illustratedembodiment. In another embodiment, a base portion of a guide device canhave a variable longitudinal length, e.g., be configured to betelescoping, which can facilitate positioning of the guide device's armportion relative to the patient's body, similar to that discussed aboveregarding the bridge member.

The shaft 404 can include an elongate member having an inner lumen 408extending between a proximal end 404 p of the shaft 404 and a distal end404 d of the shaft 404. The shaft 404 can be configured to slidably matewith the frame 402 by passing through the opening 412. The shaft 404 canbe configured to be slidably received in the opening 412 such that theshaft 404 can extend substantially parallel to the opening'slongitudinal axis A11 and substantially parallel to the arm portion 402a of the frame 402.

The shaft 404 can include one or more openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c, 410d formed adjacent the distal end 404 d of the shaft 404. When the shaft404 and the frame 402 are mated together, the respective longitudinalaxes A7, A8, A9, A10 of the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d can beconfigured to pass through the one or more openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c,410 d formed in the shaft 404 and to intersect the inner lumen 408. Eachone of the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d can therefore be configuredto predictably align with one of the openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c, 410d. A surgical device, e.g., a drill, a suture, etc., can thus beinserted through each of the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d andpredictably pass through the openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c, 410 d andextend into the inner lumen 408 of the shaft 104. In an exemplaryembodiment, each of the openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c, 410 d can beconfigured to coaxially align with one of the holes 108 a 406 a, 406 b,406 c, 406 d of the frame 402 when the frame 402 is mated to the shaft404, as shown in FIG. 16.

The shaft 404 can include an alignment mechanism 414 configured to alignthe shaft 404 in a predetermined orientation relative to the frame 402when the shaft 404 is received within the opening 412. The alignmentmechanism 414 can therefore be configured to predictably coaxially alignthe each of the openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c, 410 d with one of theholes 108 a 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d of the frame 402 when the frame402 is mated to the shaft 404. The alignment mechanism 414 can have avariety of sizes, shapes, and configurations. Similar to the connectorfeatures and the surface features discussed above, the alignmentmechanism can be in the form of visual marks, e.g., lines, colors,lights, symbols, etc., and/or tactile marks, e.g., grooves, etc.,configured to align with corresponding surface feature(s) formed on theframe 402, e.g., on the base portion 402 b adjacent the opening 412. Thealignment mechanism can additionally or alternatively include aprotrusion 414 configured to abut an exterior surface of the frame 402,e.g., an exterior surface of the base portion 402 b as shown in FIG. 16.The frame 402 can include a corresponding surface feature (not shown)such as a depression configured to seat the alignment mechanism, and/ora line, symbol, or other mark configured to abut and/or align with thealignment mechanism, thereby helping to orient the shaft 404 in a properlongitudinal position and a proper rotational position relative to theframe 402 so as to optimally orient the openings 410 a, 410 b, 410 c,410 d relative to the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d.

Similar to the guide devices of FIGS. 1 and 3 discussed above, in use,the guide device 400 can facilitate formation of intersecting bonetunnels. As shown in FIG. 18, the guide device 400 can facilitateformation of a first bone tunnel 424 in a bone 422 of a patient andformation of a plurality of additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c,430 d in the bone 422. The additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c,430 d can be substantially parallel to one another and can eachintersect the first bone tunnel 424, although similar to that discussedabove, the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 d need notbe substantially parallel to one another. More particularly, in anexemplary embodiment, the first bone tunnel 424 can be formed in thebone 422 similar to that discussed above regarding the first bone tunnel124 of FIG. 8. The frame 402 can be positioned outside the patientrelative to the bone 422 prior to forming the first bone tunnel 424. Asurgical instrument, e.g., a drill (not shown), can then be advancedthrough the frame's opening 412 and into the bone 422 to form the firstbone tunnel 424. By advancing the surgical instrument through theopening 412, the first bone tunnel 424 can be formed at a location inthe bone 422 compatible with the size and shape of the guide device 400and at a location relative to the bone 422 at which the additional bonetunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 d can be formed to optimally position atissue 420 relative to the bone 422.

The additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 d can be formed inthe bone 422 similar to that discussed above regarding the additionalbone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 c of FIG. 8, e.g., by drilling througheach of the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d formed in the frame 402. Ifthe shaft 404 is not used to form the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430b, 430 c, 430 d, the shaft 404 can be advanced through the frame'sopening 412 and be positioned within the first bone tunnel 424 prior toformation of the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 d. Thepresence of the first bone tunnel 424 in the bone 422 can indicate byfeel when each of the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 dshould stop being drilled, and/or an interior surface of the shaft 404can help prevent the drill from drilling past the first bone tunnel 424.

Also similar to that mentioned above, after the additional bone tunnels430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 d have been formed in the bone 422, the frame402 can be rotated, e.g., about the longitudinal axis A11 of the opening412 to position the frame 402 at a different position relative to thebone 422. The surgical instrument used to form the first bone tunnel424, the shaft 404, or another surgical instrument can be insertedthrough the opening 412 and positioned within the first bone tunnel 424to facilitate rotation of the frame 402 about the longitudinal axis A11of the opening 412. One or more additional bone tunnels can be formedusing the holes 406 a, 406 b, 406 c, 406 d as guides with the frame 402in this secondary location relative to the bone 422.

At least one suture can be positioned within the first bone tunnel 424and at least one of the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430d. Similar to that discussed above regarding the at least one suturebeing positioned within the first bone tunnel 124 and at least one ofthe additional bone tunnels 130 a, 130 b, 130 c of FIG. 8, the at leastone suture can be positioned within the first bone tunnel 424 and atleast one of the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b, 430 c, 430 d in avariety of ways, such as by using the guide pin 132 of FIG. 10. In anexemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, first, second, and thirdsutures 434 a, 434 b, 434 c can be positioned within the first bonetunnel 424 and various ones of the additional bone tunnels 430 a, 430 b,430 c, 430 d for knotless repair. The first suture 434 a can bepositioned in the first, second, and third bone tunnels 424, 430 a, 430b, the second suture 434 b can be positioned in the first, third, andfourth bone tunnels 424, 430 b, 430 c, and the third suture 434 c can bepositioned in the first, fourth, and fifth bone tunnels 424, 430 c, 430d. Ends of each of the first, second, and third sutures 434 a, 434 b,434 c can be pulled out of the first bone tunnel 324 through an anteriorportal 426 such that their ends extend therefrom, similar to thatdiscussed above. In an exemplary embodiment, the shaft 404 can beretracted through the opening 412 formed through the frame's baseportion 402 a with the suture 434 a, 434 b, 434 c captured thereto,e.g., by extending through various ones of the openings 410 a, 410 b,410 c, 410 d and into the shaft's inner lumen 408. Similar to thatmentioned above, the 334 a, 334 b, 334 c can be color-coded or otherwiseuniquely identified.

The tissue 420 can be attached to each of the sutures 434 a, 434 b, 434c, and the sutures 434 a, 434 b, 434 c can be tensioned to urge thetissue 420 into contact with the bone 422. The sutures 434 a, 434 b, 434c can be secured within the first bone tunnel 424 to secure the tissue420 to the bone 422. The sutures 434 a, 434 b, 434 c can be secured in avariety of ways, such as those discussed above regarding FIG. 14. Asshown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a single fixation device, e.g., aninterference screw 444, can be advanced into the first bone tunnel 424through the anterior portal 426 and be secured in the first bone tunnel424 by interference fit, threaded connection, cement, etc.

FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of a frame 502 of a guide device500. The device 500 can be configured and used similar to the guidedevice 400 of FIG. 15, but instead of including a plurality of holesformed in an arm portion 502 a of the frame 502 similar to the frame 402of FIGS. 15 and 16, the arm portion 502 a of FIG. 21 includes a singlehole 506 formed therethrough. The frame 502 can be configured tofacilitate formation of a first bone tunnel 524 and can be configured tomove relative to a bone 522 to sequentially form a plurality of bonetunnels 530 a, 530 b, 530 c each using the hole 506 as a guide. Threebone tunnels 530 a, 530 b, 530 c are formed in the illustratedembodiment, but any number of bone tunnels can be formed using the hole506 as a guide. The bone tunnels 530 a, 530 b, 530 c can be formed inany order.

A base portion 502 b of the frame 502 can include an opening 512 formedtherethrough that can be configured to slidably receive an elongateshaft 504 therein, similar to the opening 412 of FIG. 16 beingconfigured to slidably receive the elongate shaft 404 of FIG. 16. Theframe 502 can be configured to slide along the shaft 504 to bepositioned in different positions relative to the bone 522 for formationof the plurality of bone tunnels 530 a, 530 b, 530 c therethrough. Theshaft 504 can have a plurality of surface features formed thereon, e.g.,ruler marks, colored lines, etc., configured to facilitate positioningof the frame 502 therealong.

FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a guidedevice 600 configured to aid in securing a tissue to bone by allowingmultiple bone tunnels to be formed in the bone through which one or moresutures coupled to the tissue can be advanced to secure the tissue tothe bone. The guide device 600 can include a frame 602 and a guide block604 slidably coupled to the frame 602 such that the guide block 604 canbe slidably movable along the frame 602 relative thereto. The guideblock 604 can be configured to be locked at a selected position alongthe frame 602, such as with a thumbscrew 628, as discussed furtherbelow. The frame 602 can have a first end 606, a second end 608, and anarcuate portion 610 located between the first and second ends 606, 608.The arcuate portion 610 can extend linearly between first and secondlegs 602 a, 602 b of the frame 602 that can extend transversely from thearcuate portion 610. The first end 606 of the frame 602 can have a firstbore 612 formed therethrough that can be configured to receive a firstsurgical instrument, e.g., a first cannulated drill sleeve 614, and thesecond end 608 of the frame 602 can have a second bore 616 formedtherethrough that can be configured to receive a second surgicalinstrument, e.g., a second cannulated drill sleeve 618. A longitudinalaxis 612A of the first bore 612 can be coaxial with a longitudinal axis616A of the second bore 616. The guide block 604 can be slidably mountedon the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602 and can have a third bore620 a that can be configured to receive a third surgical instrument,e.g., a first suture probe 622 a, and a fourth bore 620 b formedtherethrough that can be configured to receive a fourth surgicalinstrument, e.g., a second suture probe (not shown).

The frame 602 can have a variety of sizes, shapes, and configurations.FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate the frame 602 without the guide block 604mated thereto. As in the illustrated embodiment, the frame 602 can havea non-linear or non-straight shape, e.g., a u-shape. The non-linear ornon-straight shape can facilitate positioning of the frame 602 entirelyoutside a patient's body by allowing the frame 602 to arc around thepatient's body. Each of the legs 602 a, 602 b can be linear or straightas in this illustrated embodiment such that the guide member's u-shapecan be a “hard” u-shape including two right angles. In anotherembodiment, the u-shape can be “soft.” The arcuate portion 610 and eachof the legs 602 a, 602 b can have any longitudinal length. Each of thelegs 602 a, 602 b can have longitudinal lengths 602L equal to oneanother, which can facilitate formation of bone tunnels using the frame602, as discussed further below.

The first and second legs 602 a, 602 b including the first and secondends 606, 608 at terminal ends thereof, respectively, can have a varietyof sizes, shapes, and configurations. The legs 602 a, 602 b can be atleast partially hollow and/or include one or more holes 602 h formedtherein as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 22-24, or one or both of thelegs 602 a, 602 b can be solid members. The holes 602 h can be used toimprove visibility of a surgical site, aid gripping of the frame 602,and/or help reduce a weight of the frame 602, which can help make theframe 602 easier to transport and to use during a surgical procedure. Inaddition to or as an alternative to the leg holes 602 h, the arcuateportion 610 can include one or more holes formed therein.

A guide can be at each of the first and second ends 606, 608, and caneach have at least one bore, e.g., the first and second bores 612, 616,formed therethrough. As in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG.25, the first and second bores 612, 616 can be spaced equidistantly froma horizontal center H2 of their respective guides, and can be offsetvertically in their respective guides. The illustrated bores 612, 616are cylindrical, but the bores 612, 616 can have any shape. As mentionedabove, the longitudinal axes 612A, 616A of the first and second bores612, 616, respectively, can be coaxial, which can allow bone tunnels tobe formed using surgical instruments inserted through the bores 612, 616can intersect one another and be coaxial.

In another embodiment, a frame can include ends with guides each havinga plurality of bores formed therethrough. Each of the bores in one ofthe guides can have a corresponding coaxial bore in the other guide. Thebores can be uniquely distinguishable from one another, e.g., colorcoded, marked or otherwise labeled, etc., to help indicate which of thebores in the two guides correspond to one another so instruments can beinserted through corresponding bores.

As mentioned above, the first and second bores 612, 616 can beconfigured to receive instruments therethrough, such as drills and drillsleeves. As shown, for example, in FIG. 23, the first and second drillsleeves 614, 616 can be inserted through the first and second bores 612,616, respectively, along the longitudinal axes 612A, 616A thereof. FIGS.26 and 27 illustrate the first drill sleeve 614 as a standalone elementrepresentative of both drill sleeves 614, 618, which can be the same asone another. The drill sleeves 614, 618 can each be configured toreceive a drill (not shown) therethrough such that a first drill extendsthrough the first drill sleeve 614 and a second drill extends throughthe second drill sleeve 618. An exemplary embodiment of a drill 630 isillustrated in FIG. 28. Generally, the drill 630 can be a substantiallyrigid member and can be configured to form a bone tunnel in bone wheninserted therein. As illustrated, the drill 630 can have a sharp distaltip 630 t for penetrating and/or cutting bone. The drill 630 can haveany longitudinal length 630L. In an exemplary embodiment, the drill'slongitudinal length 630L can be about 18 inches.

The first and second drill sleeves 614, 618 can have a variety ofconfigurations. As in the illustrated embodiment, the drill sleeves 614,618 can each be substantially rigid members and can each includecannulated shafts configured to receive an instrument, e.g., a drill,through inner lumens 614 i, 618 i extending respectively therethrough.The drill sleeves 614, 618 and the drills can have any longitudinallengths. In an exemplary embodiment, the drills have longitudinallengths greater than their respective drill sleeves 614, 618 such thatthe drills can be received within their respective drill sleeves 614,618 and have portions extending beyond both ends of the drill sleeves614, 618. In other words, using the first drill sleeve 614 and the drill630 as a non-limiting example, when the drill 630 is inserted throughthe sleeve 614, a distal cutting tip 630 t of the drill 630 can bepositioned distally beyond a distal tip 614 t of the sleeve 614, and aproximal end 630 p of the drill 630 can be positioned proximally beyonda proximal-most end 614 p of the sleeve 614. The proximal end 630 p ofthe drill 630 can include a connector feature 630 c, which in theillustrated embodiment includes a crimp but can have otherconfigurations, e.g., a magnet, an eyelet, etc. When inserted throughthe bores 612, 616, the drill sleeves 614, 618 can be configured to beaxially and rotatably movable in their respective bores 612, 616.

As shown in FIGS. 23, 26, and 27, the first and second bullets, reamers,or drill sleeves 614, 618, generally referred to herein as “drillsleeves,” can each include mating features configured to facilitatesecure engagement of the drill sleeves 614, 618 with the frame 602. Theframe 602, e.g., the guides at the first and second ends 606, 608 of theframe 602, can include corresponding mating features configured toengage the mating features of the drill sleeves 614, 618. Cooperationbetween the sleeves' and the frame's mating features can allow the drillsleeves 614, 618 to be held in a fixed, nonslidable position relative tothe frame 602 when inserted through the first and second bores 612, 616,respectively. The mating features can have a variety of configurations,e.g., magnets, track/rail systems, threads, etc. In the illustratedembodiment, the drill sleeves 614, 618 each include mating features inthe form of ratchets 614 r, 618 r along at least partial longitudinallengths thereof. The ratchets 614 r, 618 r of the respective drillsleeves 614, 618 can be configured to engage corresponding teeth (notshown) formed within the bores 612, 616 to hold the drill sleeves 614,618 in selected fixed positioned relative to the frame 602.

The distal ends of the sleeves 614, 618 can include one or more cuttingteeth. flat tips, as shown in FIGS. 5-7. However, one or all of thedrill sleeves 614, 618 can have other distal end configurations, such asflat, rounded, or conical tips. The cutting teeth can be configured toenhance cutting performance of the drill sleeve and to reduce an axialforce needed for the cutting, such as when creating a bone tunnel.Various embodiments of drill sleeves and drills are further discussed inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/216,947 entitled “Cross PinningGuide Devices and Methods” filed Aug. 24, 2011, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

One or all of the drill sleeves 614, 618 can have a lubricated coatingon its outer surface, inner surface, and/or on any other portions of thedrill sleeves 614, 618. The lubricated coating can be formed on drillsleeves in any way, such as by fully dipping the drill sleeves in avalidated Siliconization process. The lubricated coating can helpfacilitate smooth drilling bone holes, facilitate sleeve removal frombone, reduce heat generation during drilling, and/or reduce thepotential for galling between bone and the sleeve, between the sleeveand a instrument inserted through and the sleeve, and between the sleeveand the guide. The coating can include any biocompatible lubricatedcoating, but in an exemplary embodiment, the coating can include DowCorning® 630 Medical Fluid, available from Dow Corning Corporation ofMidland, Mich.

In an exemplary embodiment, first and second drills can be insertedthrough the first and second drill sleeves 614, 618 and inserted throughthe first and second bores 612, 616 of the frame 602 to form converging,coaxial bone tunnels that result in a single bone tunnel. However, oneor both of the first and second drills can be inserted directly throughthe first and second bores 612, 616, respectively, e.g., without drillsleeves. Additionally, although two drills can be inserted through theframe 602, in some embodiments, only one drill can be inserted throughone of the frame's first and second bores 612, 616 to form a single bonetunnel.

The arcuate portion 610 can have a variety of configurations. Thearcuate portion 610 can have an arcuate shape having an inner concavesurface facing the guide rod legs 602 a, 602 b, such that the arcuateportion 610 can arc at a terminal end thereof in a direction D towardthe first and second ends 606, 608 at ends of the first and second legs602 a, 602 b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 24. The arcuate portion 610can include a ruled scale (not shown), e.g., a plurality of angle degreemarks, along at least a portion of its longitudinal length. The ruledscale can facilitate precise positioning of the guide block 604 alongthe arcuate portion 610, as discussed further below. The marks 126 canspan any range and can have any increment, e.g., be in five degreeincrements from −25 degrees to 25 degrees. The arcuate portion 610 caninclude the ruled scale on opposed sides thereof, which can facilitateuse of the frame 102 on both left and right sides of a patient's body,e.g., on left and right shoulders.

The arcuate portion 610 can have a groove 626 formed therein, which canfacilitate smooth sliding of the guide block 604 along the arcuateportion 610. The groove 626 can be formed on one of the opposed sides ofthe arcuate portion 610, e.g., on one of the sides including a ruledscale, although any side(s) of the arcuate portion 610 can have agroove. In addition or in alternative to the groove 626, the arcuateportion 610 can include a longitudinal opening or slot 624 formedtherein and extending through both opposed surfaces thereof. As in theillustrated embodiment, the slot 624 can be formed in a portion of thegroove 626. The groove 626 and the slot 624 can be configured tofacilitate sliding of the guide block 604 along the arcuate portion 610and locking the guide block 604 relative thereto, as discussed furtherbelow.

First and second guide block axes X3, X4 shown in FIG. 24 illustratesample axes of the third bore 620 a formed through the guide block 604when the guide block 604 is mated to the arcuate portion 610 of theframe 602 and first and second positions therealong. The first andsecond positions and the first and second guide block axes X3, X4 arenon-limiting examples; the guide block 604 can be positioned anywherealong the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602. As shown, the guideblock axes X3, X4 can intersect the first and second bores' axes 612A,612B regardless of the guide block's position along the arcuate portion610 of the frame 602. The axis X2 of the fourth bore 620 b can similarlyintersect the first and second bores' axes 612A, 612B regardless of theguide block's position along the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602.

The guide block 604 can have a variety of configurations. The guideblock 604 can be configured to be detachably, slidably matable to theframe 602, or as in this illustrated embodiment, the guide block 604 canbe configured to be non-removable, slidably mated to the frame 602,e.g., to the arcuate portion 610. The groove 626 and the slot 624 can beconfigured as guide paths for the guide block 604 along the arcuateportion 610 to facilitate smooth sliding thereof. The guide block 604can be configured to selectively slide proximally and distally along thearcuate portion 610. As mentioned above, the guide block 604 can belocked at a particular position along the arcuate portion 610. Thethumbscrew 628 can be configured to move between an unscrewedconfiguration, in which the guide block 604 can slide along the arcuateportion 610, and a screwed configuration, in which the guide block 604is locked at the particular position along the arcuate portion 610 andcannot slide along the arcuate portion 610. In use, as discussed furtherbelow, when the guide block 604 is at a desired position along thearcuate portion 610, the thumbscrew 628 can be moved from the unscrewedconfiguration to the screwed configuration to lock the guide block'sposition. The thumbscrew 628 can move between the unscrewed and screwedconfigurations any number of times during a surgical procedure.Similarly, the guide block 604 can be slid any number of times and anydistance along the arcuate portion 610.

The guide block 604 can have at least one bore formed therethrough thatis configured to receive an instrument, e.g., a probe, a suture, a drillsleeve configured to receive a drill, etc. As mentioned above, the guideblock 604 in the illustrated embodiment includes two bores 620 a, 620 b.A longitudinal axis X1 of the third bore 620 a formed through the guideblock 604 and a longitudinal axis X2 of the fourth bore 620 b formedthrough the guide block 604 can be substantially parallel to oneanother, which can allow instruments inserted therethrough to besubstantially parallel to one another. The bores' axes X1, X2 can eachintersect the longitudinal axes 612A, 618A of the first and second bores612, 618, as shown in FIG. 22, which can allow instruments insertedtherethrough to intersect bone tunnels formed by instruments insertedthrough the first and second bores 612, 618, as discussed further below.Regardless of the location of the guide block 604 along the arcuateportion 610, the guide block 604 can be configured such that the bores'axes X1, X2 always intersect the longitudinal axes 612A, 618A of thefirst and second bores 612, 618, and hence any bone tunnels formed alongthe longitudinal axes 612A, 618A of the first and second bores 612, 618.

Each of the bores can be longitudinally formed through the guide block604 such that when the guide block 604 is mated to the arcuate portion610, the longitudinal axes X1, X2 of the third and fourth bores 620 a,620 b can each be substantially parallel to the legs 602 a, 602 b,although similar to that discussed above, the longitudinal axes X1, X2of the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b need not be substantiallyparallel to one another. As in the illustrated embodiment, the third andfourth bores 620 a, 620 b can be spaced equidistantly from a horizontalcenter H1 of the guide block 604. The third and fourth bores 620 a, 620b can also be centered vertically in the guide block 604, as shown inFIG. 22. The illustrated third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b arecylindrical, but the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b can have anyshape.

As mentioned above, each of the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b canbe configured to have an instrument such as a suture probe advancedtherethrough, e.g., the first suture probe 622 a of FIGS. 23 and 29. Thefirst suture probe 622 a can have a variety of configurations. In anexemplary embodiment, the first suture probe 622 a can be asubstantially rigid member and include a cannulated elongate shaft 634extending distally from a proximal collar 636. The elongate shaft 634can have an outer diameter that is less than diameters of the third andfourth bores 620 a, 620 b, while the proximal collar 636 can have anouter diameter, at least at a distal end thereof, that is greater thanthe diameters of the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b. In this way,the proximal collar 636 can be configured as a stop to prevent the firstsuture probe 622 a from being inserted too far into either of the thirdand fourth bores 620 a, 620 b and becoming difficult to handle. A distaltip 638 of the first suture probe 622 a can be pointed, sharp, and/orotherwise configured to penetrate through tissue and/or bone. FIG. 30shows the suture probe's distal tip 638 as having a pointed conicalshape extending from a proximal cylindrical portion, although the distaltip can have other shapes. The distal tip 638 can be configured to beremovable from the shaft 634, which can facilitate retrieval andtensioning of a suture coupled thereto, as discussed further below. Thedistal tip 638 can be removably coupled to the shaft 634 in a variety ofways, such as by having a proximal end thereof disposed within a distalend of the shaft 634 and mated thereto by interference fit.

The first suture probe 622 a is shown in FIGS. 23 and 29 as a standaloneelement without a suture coupled thereto. The first suture probe 622 acan be advanced through one of the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 bas such a standalone element without a suture coupled thereto, but in anexemplary embodiment, the first suture probe 622 a can be coupled to asuture when advanced through one of the third and fourth bores 620 a,620 b and can also be coupled to another suture probe, which can beadvanced through the other of the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b.The suture probes advanced through the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620b can vary from one another, but in the illustrated embodiment, thesuture probes are the same as one another. FIG. 31 illustrates the firstsuture probe 622 a coupled to a suture 632, the suture 632 also beingcoupled to a second suture probe 622 b. The second suture probe 622 bcan be identical to the first suture probe 622 a, as in the illustratedembodiment. The suture 632 coupled to the probes 622 a, 622 b is shownas a single, unfolded strand of suture, but the suture 632 can includemultiple sutures and/or or a folded suture. The first and second sutureprobes 622 a, 622 b can be provided pre-loaded with the suture 632,which can help ensure sterilization of the suture 632 and help save timeduring a surgical procedure.

The guide device 600 can be used a surgical procedure for tunnel repair.Although the rotator cuff repair procedure discussed below isillustrated with respect to the guide device 600 of FIG. 22 and variousdevices in FIGS. 23-31, any of the guide devices disclosed herein can besimilarly used. Also, although the procedure is illustrated with respectto repairing a tear 700 in a rotator cuff tissue 702 at a shoulder bone704 of a patient, as shown in FIG. 32, any of the guide devicesdisclosed herein can be used at a variety of anatomical locations torepair various tissue problems. Not shown in the Figures discussed beloware skin incision(s) that can be used in performing various aspects ofthe procedure.

Generally, the patient can first be prepared for the surgery usingstandard techniques. In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 33,the frame 602 can be positioned external to the patient relative to thebone 704 for formation of an anterior-posterior (AP) bone tunnel throughthe bone 704. The first end 606 of the frame 602 can be positioned on ananterior side of the bone 704, and the second end 608 of the frame 602can be positioned on a posterior side of the bone 704. The arcuateportion 610 can be positioned above the tissue 702 to be repaired priorto the AP tunnel being formed, as shown in FIG. 3. However, the arcuateportion 610 can be at any position relative to the bone 704 and thetissue 702 prior to advancing one or more tools through the guide block604 and into the patient because, as discussed further below, the APtunnel can facilitate positioning of the arcuate portion 610 relative tothe bone 704 and the tissue 702.

If the guide block 604 is configured to be detachable from the frame602, the guide block 604 can be attached to the frame 602, e.g., to thearcuate portion 610, at any time during the procedure. In an exemplaryembodiment, the guide block 604 can be mated to the arcuate portion 610prior to the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602 being positioned onthe medial side of the bone 704 and/or prior to the AP tunnel beingformed.

The AP tunnel can be prepared in a variety of ways, as will beappreciated by a person skilled in the art. For non-limiting example,the AP tunnel can be formed by determining a position in the bone 704that has adequate depth and strength for having a suture passedtherethrough for securing the tissue 702 to the bone 704. In anexemplary embodiment, the AP tunnel can be formed as close to thepatient's superior cortex as possible. Although the AP tunnel can haveone open end, e.g., be a blind tunnel, the AP tunnel can, as in thisillustrated embodiment, have two open ends, which can allow both of thefirst and second drill sleeves 614, 618 to simultaneously be positionedwithin the bone 704 to help stabilize the frame 602 relative thereto, asdiscussed further below. In the illustrated embodiment, the AP tunnel isformed in an anterior to posterior direction, although the AP tunnel canbe formed in a posterior to anterior direction.

The first drill sleeve 614 and the drill 630 can be advanced through thefirst bore 612 formed in the first end 606 of the frame 602 positionedon the anterior side of the bone 704 in preparation of forming the APtunnel. The second drill sleeve 618 can be advanced through the secondbore 616 formed in the second end 608 of the frame 602 positioned on theposterior side of the bone 704, as shown in FIG. 33, which canfacilitate assessment of a trajectory of the AP tunnel to be formed. Thedrill 630 can be advanced into the bone 704 by sliding through the firstbore 612 and the first drill sleeve 614 to move along the first bore'slongitudinal axis 612A. As shown in FIG. 34, the drill 630 can enter thebone 704 through an anterior portal 706 on the anterior side of the bone704, pass through the bone 704, and exit the bone 704 through aposterior portal 708 on the posterior side of the bone 704. Because thefirst and second bores 612, 616 through which the sleeves 614, 618 areinserted are coaxial, the distal tip 630 t of the drill 630 can pass outof the bone 704 and into the second drill sleeve 618, which can confirman intended trajectory of the AP tunnel. One or both of the anterior andposterior portals 706, 708 can have a cannula (not shown) disposedtherein prior to the drill 630 and/or the drill sleeves 614, 618 beingadvanced therethrough, which can help guide the drill 630 and/or thedrill sleeves 614, 618 into the bone 704.

After formation of the AP tunnel, the sleeves 614, 618 can be advancedthrough their respective bores 612, 616 along their respectivelongitudinal axes 612A, 616A to have distal ends thereof be disposedwithin the bone 704, as shown in FIG. 35. The drill 630 can be disposedwithin the bone 704 and within the drill sleeves 614, 618 when thesleeves 614, 618 are advanced into the bone 704, as shown in FIG. 35,which can help guide the sleeves 614, 618 through the anterior andposterior portals 706, 708, respectively. The sleeves' ratchets 614 r,618 r can fix the sleeves 614, 618 in position relative to the frame602. Having one or both of the sleeves 614, 618 disposed within the bone704 can therefore help stabilize the frame 602 relative thereto and canfacilitate positioning of the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602relative to the bone 704. In one embodiment, with the sleeves 614, 618inserted in the AP tunnel, the frame 602 can be rotated relative to thebone 704 about the longitudinal axes 612A, 616A of the first and secondbores 612, 616, which can be coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the APtunnel. Such rotation can facilitate positioning of the arcuate portion610 above the tissue 702 on a medial side of the bone 704, as shown inFIG. 33.

A flexible tube 710, shown in FIG. 36 can be coupled to the proximal end630 p of the drill 630, such as by being crimped in the drill's crimpmating feature 630 c. The flexible tube 710 can have a variety of sizes,shapes, and configurations. Generally, the flexible tube 710 can have asize and shape corresponding to a size and shape of the AP tunnel, e.g.,substantially cylindrical as in the illustrated embodiment. The flexibletube 710 can be have a maximum outer diameter that is approximately thesame as the diameter of the AP tunnel, which in the illustratedembodiment is about 4 mm. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible tube710 can include a plastic tube such as a Tygon® tube available fromSaint-Gobain Performance Plastics of Aurora, Ohio. The drill 630 can beadvanced in a posterior direction through the AP tunnel, as shown inFIG. 36, until the proximal end 630 p of the drill 630 enters the APtunnel, thereby introducing the flexible tube 710 into the AP tunnel.The drill 630 can continue being advanced through the AP tunnel untilthe drill 630 passes out of the AP tunnel, e.g., exiting through theposterior portal 708, such that the flexible tube 710 extends throughthe AP tunnel, as shown in FIG. 37. The flexible tube 710 can facilitateretrieval and tensioning of one or more sutures coupled to the tissue702 and advanced into the AP tunnel, as discussed further below.

With the frame 602 having the guide block 604 mated thereto and beingpositioned on the medial side of the bone 704, the guide block 604 canbe slid along the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602 to position theguide block 604 at a selected angular position therealong to positionthe guide block 604 relative to the bone 704 and to the tissue 702,and/or the frame 604 can be rotated about the first bore's, secondbore's and tunnel's coaxial axes 612A, 616A, to position the guide block604 relative to the bone 704 and to the tissue 702. In this way, thetrajectories of the third and fourth bores 620 a, 620 b in the guideblock 604 can be angularly adjusted relative to the bone 704, to thetissue 702, and to the AP tunnel. The trajectories of the third andfourth bores 620 a, 620 b relative to the bone 704, to the tissue 702,and to the AP tunnel be selected based on any number of factors, such aswhere it is desired to pass a suture through one or both of the bores620 a, 620 b and into the tissue 702 and the bone 704 with the guideblock 604 at a particular selected position along the arcuate portion610 of the frame 602. If the guide block 604 is in a lockedconfiguration, e.g., if the thumbscrew 628 is in a screwedconfiguration, the thumbscrew 627 can be moved from the screwedconfiguration to an unscrewed configuration to allow the guide block 604to slide along the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602. When the guideblock 108 is at a selected angular position, the guide block 604 can belocked at that position, such as by the moving the thumbscrew 628 fromthe unscrewed configuration to the screwed configuration.

With the guide block 604 at the selected angular position, as shown inFIG. 38, the first suture probe 622 a having the suture 632 attachedthereto can be advanced through the third bore 620 a formed through theguide block 604. A cannula 712 can be positioned relative to the tissue702 and the bone 704 to help guide the first suture probe 622 a into thepatient. The cannula 712 can be positioned entirely outside the bone 704and either abut an external tissue surface, e.g., skin surface, of thepatient, or pass through the external tissue surface a relatively smalldistance with a distal end of the cannula 712 being positioned above thetissue 702 to be secured to the bone 704. As shown in FIG. 39, the firstsuture probe 622 a can be advanced through an interior passageway 714 ofthe cannula 712 to penetrate the tissue 702. The first suture probe 622a can be further advanced into the patient to pass through the tissue702 and into the bone 704 underlying the tissue until the distal tip 638thereof pierces the flexible tube 710 positioned within the AP tunneland passes into the cannulated interior of the flexible tube 710, asshown in FIG. 40. The first suture probe 622 a can be tapped into thebone 704, and the presence of the AP tunnel in the bone 704 can indicateby feel when each of the first suture probe 622 a should stop beingtapped into the bone 704. The first suture probe 622 a can be configuredto be inserted a predetermined depth into the bone 704 to position thedistal tip 638 of the first suture probe 622 a within the AP tunnel. Thefirst suture probe 622 a can include at least one stop featureconfigured to facilitate insertion of the first suture probe 622 a intothe bone 704 at the predetermined depth. The at least one stop featurecan have a variety of configurations, such as a visual mark (e.g., aline, a color, a light, a symbol, etc.) configured to align with atleast one corresponding stop feature of the guide block 604, a tactilemark (e.g., a groove, etc.) configured to align with at least onecorresponding stop feature of the guide block 604, and/or a protrusion(e.g., a distal surface of the collar 636, a pin or other memberextending radially outward from the shaft 634, etc.) configured to abuta surface of the guide block 604. The first suture probe 622 a can beadvanced through the guide block 604 until the at least one stop featureengages the at least one corresponding stop feature of the guide block604, e.g., until the protrusion abuts the guide block and/or until stopfeatures align, thereby indicating that the first suture probe 662 a hasbeen inserted into the bone 604 at the predetermined depth.

As shown in FIG. 41, with the distal tip 638 of the first suture probe622 a positioned within the AP tunnel, the shaft 634 of the first sutureprobe 622 a can be retracted to remove the shaft 634 from the patient'sbody, thereby leaving the distal tip 638 of the first suture probe 622 awith the suture 632 attached thereto within the AP tunnel. The suture632 can trail out of the AP tunnel, through the bone 704, through thetissue 702, and out of the patient.

As shown in FIG. 42, the second suture probe 622 b having the suture 632coupled thereto can be advanced through the fourth bore 620 b formedthrough the guide block 604 and be advanced into the patient similar tothe first suture probe 622 a. The second suture probe 622 b can beadvanced into the patient after the shaft 634 of the first suture probe622 a has been removed from the patient, as in the illustratedembodiment, or the second suture probe 622 b can be advanced into thepatient before removal of the shaft 634. Also, although the first andsecond suture probes 622 a, 622 b are advanced sequentially through theguide block 604 in the illustrated embodiment, the first and secondsuture probes 622 a, 622 b can be advanced simultaneously through theguide block 604. The guide block 604 can be at the same selectedposition along the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602 when the firstand second suture probes 622 a, 622 b are advanced through the guideblock 604. Alternatively, the guide block 604 can be unlocked after thefirst suture probe 622 a has been inserted into the patient, moved to asecond selected position along the arcuate portion 610 of the frame 602,and locked at the second selected position. The second suture probe 622b can then be inserted through the fourth bore 620 b with the guideblock 604 at the second selected position. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 42, the guide block 604 has been so moved to the second selectedposition.

Similar to that discussed above regarding the first suture probe 622 a,the second suture probe 622 b can be advanced into the patient to passthrough the tissue 702 and into the bone 704 underlying the tissue untila distal tip 638 b thereof pierces the flexible tube 710 positionedwithin the AP tunnel and passes into the cannulated interior of theflexible tube 710, as shown in FIG. 43. With the distal tip 638 b of thesecond suture probe 622 b positioned within the AP tunnel, a shaft 634 bof the second suture probe 622 b can be retracted to remove the shaft634 b from the patient's body, thereby leaving the distal tip 638 b ofthe second suture probe 622 b with the suture 632 attached theretowithin the AP tunnel. Thus, as shown in FIG. 44, the suture 632 can havefirst and second portions 632 a, 632 b trailing out of the AP tunnel,through the bone 704, through the tissue 702, and out of the patient,with each of the portions 632 a, 632 b having one of the probe distaltips 638, 638 b coupled thereto (the first distal tip 638 is obscured inFIG. 44). An intermediate portion 632 i of the suture 632 i can bepositioned outside the AP tunnel and above the tissue 702. The positionof the fourth bore 620 b formed through the guide block 604 can allowthe second suture probe 622 b, and hence the suture 632, to be advancedthrough the tissue 702 on an opposite side of the tear 700 from thefirst suture probe 622 a, as shown in FIGS. 43 and 44.

The flexible tube 710 can be moved in a posterior direction, asindicated by arrow R in FIG. 45, through the posterior portal 708. Forclarity, the second drill sleeve 618 is not shown in FIG. 45. Themovement of the flexible tube 710 can also move the probe distal tips638, 638 b in the posterior direction and hence also move posteriorlythe first and second portions 632 a, 632 b of the suture 632 coupled tothe probe distal tips 638, 638 b. The posterior movement of the firstand second portions 632 a, 632 b of the suture 632 can cause theintermediate portion 632 i of the suture 632 to advance toward thetissue 702, as also shown in FIG. 45. The intermediate portion 632 i ofthe suture 632 can span across the tear 700, which can facilitateclosure and healing of the tear 700. Once the probe distal tips 638, 638b having the first and second portions 632 a, 632 b of the suture 632coupled thereto have been pulled a sufficient amount to be locatedexternal to the patient, as shown in FIG. 46, the flexible tube 710 canbe removed from the suture 632, and the drill sleeves 614, 618 can beremoved from the bone 704. If the cannula 712 has been inserted into thepatient, the cannula 712 can be removed therefrom. The suture 632 can betensioned, e.g., the first and second portions 632 a, 632 b of thesuture 632 can be pulled, to move the intermediate portion 632 i of thesuture 632 closer to the tear 700, as shown in FIG. 47. The intermediateportion 632 i of the suture 632 can abut the tissue 702 while spanningthe tear 700.

After tensioning the suture 632 to position the suture 632 and thetissue 702 coupled thereto in a desired position relative to the bone704, and after tensioning and position any additional sutures, a singlefixation device 716 can be advanced into the posterior portal 708 of theAP tunnel through which the suture 632 extends to secure the sutures432, as shown in FIGS. 45 and 46. Excess suture 632 can be trimmed.

The fixation device 716 can be advanced into the posterior portal 708 ina variety of ways, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in theart. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 45, the fixationdevice 716 can be coupled to a distal end of a driver 718 and advancedinto the posterior portal 708. The driver 718 can then be removed fromthe fixation device 716 and removed from the patient. Although thefixation device is illustrated as a suture anchor in FIG. 14, thefixation device can have a variety of configurations, e.g., a screw, asuture anchor, cement, a pin, etc. The suture anchor can also have avariety of configurations. Exemplary embodiments of suture anchorsinclude the HEALIX BR™ anchor and the HEALIX PEEK™ anchor, bothavailable from DePuy Mitek, Inc. of Raynham, Mass.

One or more additional sutures (not shown) can be advanced into thepatient similarly to the suture 632 to help further secure the tissue702 to the bone 704 and repair the tear 700. Each of the one or moreadditional sutures can be advanced into the tissue 702 and into the bone704 at a different location from the suture 632 and from each other. Theguide block 604 can be slid along the arcuate portion 610 of the frame602 to redirect the trajectories of the third and fourth bores 620 a,620 b for each of the one or more additional sutures and/or the frame602 can be rotated relative to the tissue 702 and the bone 704 about theAP tunnel's longitudinal axis, e.g., the first and second bores' axes612A, 616A, to redirect the trajectories of the third and fourth bores620 a, 620 b for each of the one or more additional sutures. Providingmultiple sutures in different locations can provide redundancy in caseof suture failure and can help urge the tissue 702 into greater contactwith the bone 704, which can facilitate healing and can help keep thetissue 702 in greater contact with the bone 704 as the patient moves.The suture 632 and each of the one or more additional sutures can becolor-coded or otherwise marked for unique identification. The flexibletube 710 can be used to advance each of the one or more additionalsutures through the posterior portal 708. The single fixation device 716can be used to secure the suture 632 and each of the one or moreadditional sutures.

The various methods and devices disclosed herein can be used in avariety of surgical procedures, however the methods and devices areparticularly useful for repairing a torn rotator cuff in a humanshoulder.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the present inventionhas application in conventional minimally-invasive and open surgicalinstrumentation as well application in robotic-assisted surgery.

The devices disclosed herein can also be designed to be disposed ofafter a single use, or they can be designed to be used multiple times.In either case, however, the device can be reconditioned for reuse afterat least one use. Reconditioning can include any combination of thesteps of disassembly of the device, followed by cleaning or replacementof particular pieces and subsequent reassembly. In particular, thedevice can be disassembled, and any number of the particular pieces orparts of the device can be selectively replaced or removed in anycombination. Upon cleaning and/or replacement of particular parts, thedevice can be reassembled for subsequent use either at a reconditioningfacility, or by a surgical team immediately prior to a surgicalprocedure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that reconditioningof a device can utilize a variety of techniques for disassembly,cleaning/replacement, and reassembly. Use of such techniques, and theresulting reconditioned device, are all within the scope of the presentapplication.

One skilled in the art will appreciate further features and advantagesof the invention based on the above-described embodiments. Accordingly,the invention is not to be limited by what has been particularly shownand described, except as indicated by the appended claims. Allpublications and references cited herein are expressly incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical device, comprising: a frame having abase portion and an arm portion extending transversely from the baseportion, the base portion having an opening formed therethrough, and thearm portion having a plurality of holes formed therethrough, the openingformed through the base portion being configured to receive a surgicalinstrument therethrough, each of the plurality of holes being configuredto receive a suture therethrough, a longitudinal axis of the openingformed through the base portion being substantially perpendicular tolongitudinal axes of each of the plurality of holes, and thelongitudinal axes of the plurality of holes being substantially parallelto one another; a shaft having a cannulated interior and beingconfigured to be slidably seated in the opening, wherein when the shaftis slidably seated in the opening, the longitudinal axis of each of theplurality of holes intersects the cannulated interior of the shaft; afirst suture configured to, when the shaft is slidably seated in theopening, extend through a first one of the plurality of holes, into thecannulated interior of the shaft, and through the opening formed throughthe base portion of the frame; and a second suture configured to, whenthe shaft is slidably seated in the opening, extend through a second oneof the plurality of holes, into the cannulated interior of the shaft,and through the opening formed through the base portion of the frame. 2.The device of claim 1, further comprising a suture capture device havingat least one suture capture feature, the suture capture device beingconfigured to be advanced through the opening such that at least onesuture capture feature is aligned with at least one of the holes.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising a suture capture device configuredto be advanced through the opening formed through the base portion tocapture at least one suture extending through at least one of theplurality of holes, and retracted through the opening formed through thebase portion with the at least one suture captured thereto.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the shaft is configured to be inserted intobone.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein when the shaft is slidablyseated in the opening and the shaft is positioned within the bone, anintermediate portion of the shaft extending between a first end of theshaft and a second end of the shaft is positioned within the bone and ispositioned relative to the arm portion of the frame such that respectivelongitudinal axes of the plurality of holes intersect a longitudinalaxis of the intermediate portion of the shaft.
 6. The device of claim 5,wherein the shaft has a plurality of openings formed in the intermediateportion thereof, and, when the shaft is slidably seated in the opening,each of the plurality of openings is coaxially aligned with one of theplurality of holes.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the shaft includesan alignment feature configured to align the shaft in a predeterminedorientation relative to the holes.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein theframe include a surface feature configured to align with the alignmentfeature when the shaft is slidably seated in the opening so as to alignthe shaft in the predetermined orientation relative to the holes.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the cannulated interior is configured toreceive therein the suture that is received by each of the plurality ofholes.
 10. A surgical device, comprising: a guide device having firstand second terminal ends with an intermediate portion extending betweenthe first and second terminal ends, a first plurality of holes beingformed in the intermediate portion, and the first terminal end includingan opening therein; a shaft having one or more holes formed therein, theshaft having an inner lumen extending therethrough that is incommunication with the one or more holes, the shaft being configured tobe releasably received in the opening such that longitudinal axes ofeach of the first plurality of holes pass through the one or more holes,and the shaft being configured to be advanced into a bone of a patient;wherein when the shaft is positioned within the bone and is releasablyreceived in the opening, the guide device is positioned entirelyexternal to the patient; a first suture configured to, when the shaft isreleasably received in the opening, extend through a first one of thefirst plurality of holes, into the inner lumen of the shaft, and throughthe opening; and a second suture configured to, when the shaft isreleasably received in the opening, extend through a second one of thefirst plurality of holes, into the inner lumen of the shaft, and throughthe opening.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the one or more holesinclude a second plurality of holes, and when the shaft is releasablyreceived in the opening, each one of the first plurality of holes iscoaxially aligned with one of the second plurality of holes.
 12. Thedevice of claim 10, wherein the one or more holes include a single hole.13. The device of claim 10, wherein the longitudinal axes of the firstplurality of holes are substantially parallel to one another.
 14. Thedevice of claim 10, further comprising a suture capture deviceconfigured to be slidably moved in the opening in a first direction andthen capture at least one suture extending through at least one of thefirst plurality of holes, and slidably moved in the opening in a seconddirection so as to slidably retract the captured at least one suturethrough the opening, the second direction being opposite to the firstdirection.
 15. The device of claim 10, wherein the guide device includesa feature configured to position the shaft releasably received in theopening in a predetermined orientation relative to the guide device, thelongitudinal axes of each of the first plurality of holes passingthrough the one or more holes when the shaft is in the predeterminedorientation relative to the guide device.
 16. The device of claim 15,wherein the feature includes at least one of a cut-out formed in theguide device, a visual mark on the guide device, and a tactile mark onthe guide device.
 17. A surgical device, comprising: a frame having abase portion and an arm portion extending transversely from the baseportion, the base portion having an opening formed therethrough, and thearm portion having a plurality of holes formed therethrough, the openingformed through the base portion being configured to receive a surgicalinstrument therethrough, each of the plurality of holes being configuredto receive a suture therethrough, a longitudinal axis of the openingformed through the base portion being substantially perpendicular tolongitudinal axes of each of the plurality of holes, and thelongitudinal axes of the plurality of holes being substantially parallelto one another; a first suture configured to, when a shaft is slidablyseated in the opening, extend through a first one of the plurality ofholes, into an inner lumen of the shaft, and through the opening formedthrough the base portion of the frame; and a second suture configuredto, when the shaft is slidably seated in the opening, extend through asecond one of the plurality of holes, into the inner lumen of the shaft,and through the opening formed through the base portion of the frame.